AEGiS-06IAC: Complacency, risk perception and the problem of HIV education.

6th International AIDS Conference

San Francisco, California, USA — June 20-23, 1990

Complacency, risk perception and the problem of HIV education.

Int Conf AIDS 1990 Jun 20-23; 6:343 (abstract no. Th.D.870)
Macdonald G, Smith C; Institute for Health Promotion, University of Wales, Cardiff, UK

OBJECTIVE: AIDS has received less political and media attention in the UK in the last 18 months, which might have led to complacency and low risk perception of HIV infection. A survey of 1002 people in Wales was conducted to discover the degree of discriminatory and complacent attitudes and risk perception surrounding HIV infection.

METHODS: Interlocking quota controls for age and social class within each of the 60 interviewing points were used to reflect the demographic profiles of Welsh adults.

RESULTS: The results indicated that up to 65% of the sample expressed discriminatory attitudes towards people with HIV. Complacency had not changed significantly over previous surveys (X2 test with Yates correction). Interestingly people correctly estimated the degree of risk to them of being infected with HIV when compared to 4 other 'life events'. Younger people (aged 15-34) considered themselves more at risk of infection (Linear X2 test) but overall perceived risk of infection was low.

CONCLUSION: A sustained low key education programme based on the recognition of the power of perceived norms and social support for attitude change (by personalising information) and based on a variety of settings is needed in Wales to combat prejudice and complacency.

Keywords: AEGIS, Risk-Taking, Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Health Education, Prejudice, Wales, Adult, Human, education, prevention & control, ICA6

900620
ThD870