Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate and present some pertinent comments concerning Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) knowledge, attitudes and misconceptions among the general population in a city of west Turkey. This study was deemed important and relevant due to the increasing importance of AIDS in Turkey and the other countries.MethodsUsing a multistage area sampling method, a random sample of individuals aged 11–83 years, living in 65 different quarters in the city of Eskisehir, Turkey during September, October and November 2004 were interviewed.ResultsIn all, 1048 respondents completed the survey. In most items, respondents displayed a fairly good to excellent degree of knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Individuals with higher degrees of education indicated more correct responses in all items relating to knowledge of HIV/AIDS.In general, the respondents' attitudes towards AIDS and people with AIDS were found to be tolerant and positive, with one answer choice showing that the majority of the respondents agreed with the statement that those with HIV/AIDS must be supported, treated and helped (90.7%). Moreover, the proportions of the respondents' misconceptions were found to be significantly low for all the items. However, nearly one fourth of the respondents agreed with the misconceptions 'AIDS is a punishment by God' and 'One is not infected with HIV/AIDS if engaged in sport and well nourished'.ConclusionIn general HIV/AIDS related knowledge was high and people showed positive attitudes. However, people continue to hold misconceptions about AIDS and these need to be addressed by health education programs targeting those at higher risk.
Highlights
The aim of this study was to investigate and present some pertinent comments concerning Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) knowledge, attitudes and misconceptions among the general population in a city of west Turkey
People continue to hold misconceptions about AIDS and these need to be addressed by health education programs targeting those at higher risk
They indicated that they believed that AIDS is not generally seen in the developing or underdeveloped countries, countries that would be least able to afford to care for infected people (38.5%), that people infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) usually show some symptom of the disease (39.2%), and that 23.1% of them believed that AIDS patients differ from the normal population in their appearance (23.1%)
Summary
The aim of this study was to investigate and present some pertinent comments concerning Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) knowledge, attitudes and misconceptions among the general population in a city of west Turkey. The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), one of the most complex health problems of the 21 st century, is in its third decade and has become a pandemic disease that threatens the world population. Recent epidemiological data indicates that an estimated 34–46 million individuals are living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/AIDS [2,3,4]. Four million children have been infected since the virus first (page number not for citation purposes). Over 90% of these individuals are concentrated in the developing countries, mostly in countries least able to afford to care for infected people. Over 50% of the newly infected adults are in the age bracket 15 to 24 years old and more than 40% are women [2,4,5,6]
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