7th International AIDS Conference Florence, Italy — June 16-21, 1991

Int Conf AIDS 1991 Jun 16-21; 7:442 (abstract no. W.D.4218)
Schutte E, Oswald H; Freie Universitat Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate an AIDS information campaign in West Berlin schools conducted by experts (medical doctors, biology teachers) who were especially trained as schoolworkers.

METHODS: The sample consists of 1105 students aged twelve to eighteen years and is representative of the students of West Berlin. A questionnaire examined whether there was a significant increase in knowledge about HIV and AIDS as well as related problems. For this purpose we used a before and after design with the first investigation taking pace in autumn 1989 and the second in summer 1990. Half of the sample benifitted from the schoolworkers' AIDS information program (treatment group), while the other half received no such treatment (control group).

RESULTS: The three main hypotheses were all confirmed: In comparison to the control group the treatment group shows. a) a larger increase in HIV and AIDS-related knowledge, b) a larger decrease in the tendency to discriminate people with HIV and AIDS, c) a larger decrease in unreasonable fear of AIDS infection. The differences we found were all statistically significant. Further we found significant differences with regard to schooltrack and ethnicity, but no gender differences.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the AIDS information campaign as conducted in West Berlin schools proved to be successful and its continuation can be recommended. An even greater efficiancy could, however, be achieved by designing special programs for students in lower schooltracks and different ethnic groups.

Copyright © 1991 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.