Awareness of AIDS in India: effect of public education through the mass media
Jacob, K.S.; Jayakumari, H.; John, J.K.; John, T.J.
BMJ 299(6701): 721
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0959-8138 PMID: 2508889 DOI: 10.2307/29705357Document Number: 363751
Interviews in Vellore, India, with 3 groups of subjects revealed considerable ignorance of AIDS : 133 (58%) of 231 patients attending an outpatient clinic, 103 (77%) of 134 attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic and 68 (96%) of 71 prostitutes were not aware of AIDS. Lack of knowledge was associated with illiteracy and lower socioeconomic class. Newspapers and radio were the most common channels of information for those who were aware of AIDS (altogether about 30%). As most of the Indian population is illiterate and poor and lives in rural areas the authors stress the urgent need for new strategies for public education on AIDS and its prevention in developing countries.D.W. FitzSimons.