HIV/AIDS in China: survey provides guidelines for improving awareness
Li, C.S.; Kun, Z.S.; Xia, M.L.; Zhang, Y.S.
Asia Pacific Population and Policy 62: 1-4
2002
Document Number: 257181
In December 2000, a survey was conducted in China to provide baseline information for expanding preventive activities relevant to human immunodeficiency virus infection and/or acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). A total of 7023 men and women aged 15-49 years were interviewed, of whom 14% were married. Overall, one-fifth of survey respondents had never heard of AIDS before. HIV/AIDS awareness was much lower in rural areas than in urban areas and slightly lower among women than among men. Knowledge on disease transmission was also higher in urban areas than in rural areas. Among respondents who have heard of AIDS, the most frequently mentioned way to avoid HIV infection was to have only one sex partner. Others also mentioned using condoms, avoiding unnecessary blood transfusions, or using clean needles. In the country as a whole, more than half of the respondents (53%) either did not know that AIDS can be avoided, could not name a single way to avoid infection, or had not heard of AIDS at all. More than one-fourth of the respondents (29%) were worried that they might become infected with HIV, whereas three-fourths (76%) wanted information about HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections. Regarding attitudes toward people living with HIV, many respondents expressed sympathy. With regards to information sources, most people who know about AIDS had heard of the disease from television and newspapers. Few had learned it from health workers. This survey shows that knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS is low, particularly in rural areas.