Risk perception, knowledge and social distance of Turkish high school students about HIV/AIDS

Abstract

AIDS, in its third decade, is one of the greatest global challenges, and people with HIV/AIDS have been subjected to social ostracism, discrimination and violence since the earliest days of the epidemic.1 Negative attitudes towards people with illness have a large impact on communities. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated risk perceptions, knowledge, beliefs and social distance of the Turkish high school student related to AIDS. In 2004, data were collected from the provinces of Erzurum and Istanbul using a questionnaire. One general, 1 health and 1 Muslim religious high school were randomly selected from the each province. A total of 1387 students responded the questionnaire, and 94.5% believed that AIDS is an important problem for Turkish society. However, 54.4% stated no HIV risk for them in the future, and it is higher than in Greece.2 Overall true response rate was 60.3%, and no idea was 24.1% regarding AIDS knowledge. In terms of transmission routes, the true response rate was 61.4% and the correct rates were lower than 50% regarding insect and mosquito bite, breast feeding, sharing razor, public bath and toilets, sneezing and coughing. With regard to preventive methods, the true response rate was 63.7% and no idea was 23%. The students stated condom as a preventive method was lower than monogamy and sharing needle. A positive linear correlation was found between age, grade, population size of childhood habitat and parent education with the AIDS knowledge score. As an expected result, students of the health high schools were more knowledgeable than the others. Nearly half of the students expressed discomfort at the prospect of contact with people with HIV/AIDS (Table 1). Of the students, 52.7% stated that they should be publicly announced or somehow marked as HIV+. The desire for social distance towards people with HIV/AIDS was increasing with age, grade and population size of childhood habitat. Increasing of the social distance with age and grades is a notable finding, and it is consistent with a previous study.3 Controlling for gender, the students of the health high schools have highest social distance score. It seems that knowledge is not always enough to change attitudes by alone.4 Lastly, the students had knowledge gap about HIV/AIDS, and individual risk perception is very low. Negative attitudes and discrimination are prevalent. As the negative attitudes significantly increase community burden of diseases,1 more consideration needs to be given on effective health education methods.