Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
BBC News - Sunday, 16 November, 2003
Liz Blunt, BBC African analyst
The BBC commissioned a survey in 15 countries, testing people's views on Aids and HIV.
Only in Bangladesh was the government given a convincing vote of confidence.
In the country worst hit by the disease, South Africa, only 28% of people questioned thought their government was trying hard enough.
The survey confirmed Aids as a significant concern for many people - more worrying than money, crime, terrorism or other health issues in three of the countries surveyed - Tanzania, Nigeria and India.
Elsewhere people had more pressing priorities, such as their own financial security.
The level of concern depended very much on where people lived - being lowest in the UK and US.
Three of the five countries where HIV and Aids were of least concern are nations identified by UNAids as being most at risk of rapidly rising infection rates - Ukraine, Russia and China.
Even in South Africa, where one in five adults is already infected, Aids took second place, well behind fear of crime and general lawlessness.
Misconceptions
Except in China, nearly everyone questioned knew what Aids was and how it was contracted - from unprotected sex, dirty needles or passed on from an infected mother to her baby.
But quite a lot of people also thought - quite wrongly - that you could contract the disease from other forms of personal contact.
Again China was the worst-informed country of those surveyed, with a third of those asked thinking you could catch the virus by using the same lavatory as an infected person.
Nearly as many said that sharing items like cups or towels could also spread the infection.
Condom concerns
Not everyone knew that Aids was fatal. Over half those questioned in Brazil and Nigeria said they did not think it was life-threatening.
Across all the countries surveyed, more than 70% of those asked believed that young people under the age of 14 should be taught that condoms can protect them against Aids.
This included a number of predominantly Catholic countries, such as Mexico and Brazil, where well over 90% supported this kind of sex education, despite the Catholic church's dislike of condoms.
But there is still unease in certain countries; a clear majority in both Nigeria and Indonesia were against this kind of teaching.
031116
BB031124
Copyright © 2003 - BBC. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the BBC.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Elton John AIDS Foundation UK, the National Library of Medicine, AIDS Walk of Orange County, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2003. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2003. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.
.