Abstract
Recent global statistics highlight that, out of all new cases of HIV infection, 45% are diagnosed in young people (UNAIDS 2008). Despite a range of new initiatives aimed at increasing young people's knowledge of HIV at the beginning of the first decade of the twenty-first century (UNAIDS 2001), latest figures highlight that such initiatives have not been wholly successful in preventing new infection in young people (UNAIDS 2011). In light of this, the language patterns that young people use when seeking information about HIV/AIDS are investigated. Our focus in particular is on computer-mediated-communication, a relatively under-researched area in the sphere of health communication. Building on previous research (Locher 2006, 2010; Harvey et al. 2008; Harvey 2013), we examine one UK and one US Internet-based, professional, health advice column as sources of advice-information for young people. Despite numerous established health campaigns, young advice-seekers' questions reflect misinformed conceptions, such as the conflation of HIV and AIDS and confusion as to the way in which the virus can be contracted. Our linguistic research gives access to young people's lay beliefs about sexual health and highlights the need to redress such beliefs, with the aim of improving the effectiveness of health education initiatives. We suggest that computer-mediated communication can be one effective medium through which to assess young people's knowledge about HIV/AIDS, as well as effectively disseminating sexual health advice and information by health care bodies.
Highlights
In 2001, the General Assembly of the United Nations agreed upon a Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS which set the goal of ensuring that 95% of young people globally, would have comprehensive knowledge of HIV
Locher and Louse Mullany: "Can I Be at Risk of Getting AIDS?" 115 A Linguistic Analysis of Two Internet Columns on Sexual Health the health professionals working on Lucy Answers is to target college students and the Teenage Health Freak website caters for adolescents between the ages of 10–17, it is important to stress from the outset that there is no verifiable information of who reads and contributes to the sites – all contributors are anonymous
Locher and Louse Mullany: "Can I Be at Risk of Getting AIDS?" 117 A Linguistic Analysis of Two Internet Columns on Sexual Health
Summary
In 2001, the General Assembly of the United Nations agreed upon a Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS which set the goal of ensuring that 95% of young people globally (where "young people" is defined as individuals aged between 15–24), would have comprehensive knowledge of HIV. In June 2011, statistics show that 15–24 year olds, and young women in particular are most at risk from HIV infection, Linguistik online 59, 2/13. Both Teenage Health Freak and Lucy Answers are run by health professionals who provide credible, confidential and evidence-based advice and information. Ninety percent of respondents choose to provide this information and they self-identify as young people aged between 10–17. Requests peak at those self-identifying as 13 and 14 years old. We will return to this point at a later stage
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
