Acculturation, Beliefs about AIDS, and AIDS Education among New York City Hispanic Parents

Abstract

The authors interviewed 100 Hispanic parents in the language of their choice (Spanish or English) to explore their beliefs aboutAIDSandAIDS education. The authors assessed the relationship between acculturation (language preference) and beliefs about AIDS and sources of information aboutAIDS. In addition, they examined parents'beliefs about AIDS and their level of acculturation as predictors of what parents believed students should learn about AIDS transmission. Most parents appeared well informed about the major AIDS transmission routes (sex, sharing needles) and the role of condoms in reducing AIDS risk However, many seemed to have erroneous beliefs about casual contagion of AIDS (from being in the same room with a person with AIDS and from a public toilet) and about insect transmission of AIDS (from a mosquito bite). Less acculturated Hispanics seemed less certain about the process of how AIDS spreads and about the possibility of catching AIDS through casual contact. Parents' beliefs about AIDS predicted what parents believed students should learn about AIDS transmission. The authors discuss the implications for prevention in the Hispanic community.