Knowledge and attitudes about AIDS and AIDS education in elementary school students and their parents

Abstract

Elementary school children in Grades 4–7 ( N = 243) and parents ( N = 155) were surveyed to discover their knowledge and attitudes towards AIDS and AIDS education. The majority of children knew what AIDS is, but younger children were less knowledgeable about sexual transmission, prevention, or what happens to people with AIDS. Significant age and sex differences in attitudes were found, older children and girls being more tolerant. Families are discussing AIDS at home, but children are generally not confiding in their parents about their fears of this disease. Parents attributed responsibility for providing AIDS education to the family and the school, supporting such instruction as early as age 6, and definitely before age 12. Parents were more willing to have their children associate with a child who is HIV-positive than one who has AIDS.