Monasch R, Bull N; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 2000 Jul 9-14; 13: abstract no. ThPeC5398.

R. Monasch, UNICEF, 3 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017, United States, Tel.: +1 212 824 67 25, Fax: +1 212 824 64 90, E-mail: nbull@unicef.org and rmonasch@hotmail.com

Background: Why are young people still getting HIV/AIDS? The common assumption is that they have the information to protect themselves but are not changing behaviour. Consultations with young people repeatedly include requests for more information. The assumption must be challenged to better understand what they actually know. Methods: Comparative analysis of 32 Demographic & Health Surveys (1994-1999). Levels of knowledge, awareness, perception of risk for 15-24 year olds were linked to HIV prevalence rates at time of surveys. Results: The % of 15-19 year old girls who have heard of HIV/AIDS vary by region. In high prevalence areas eg. South Africa (1998), Uganda (1995) and Zambia (1996) over 98% had heard of AIDS. Low prevalence countries showed a lower proportion having heard of HIV/AIDS - 17% Bangladesh (1997). Awareness that a healthy looking person can have HIV/AIDS is low in all countries. A high incidence country like Mozambique (1997) shows 66% of girls (15-19) not knowing a healthy looking person can have HIV/AIDS. In South Africa the figure is over 50%. Uganda has the highest level of awareness in Africa with 23% not knowing. This still leaves a significant proportion of adolescent women ill informed. High HIV prevalence countries have less young women 20-24 who feel they have no risk at all of getting AIDS. Despite this a high % of young women still do not perceive themselves at risk: 68% in Haiti (1995) and 50% in Zimbabwe (1994). Conclusions: Large numbers of young people in all countries don't perceive themselves at risk of HIV/AIDS. Existing information has not been internalised by them. Significant proportions do not have basic knowledge to protect themselves. Information provision is a key component of effective programmes. A deeper understanding of what is known/believed is needed. Effective communication mechanisms for sharing information need to be developed with young people. Gender/socioeconomic analysis available in March

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Adolescent
• Africa
• Awareness
• Bangladesh
• Female
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Haiti
• Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
• Humans
• Incidence
• Knowledge
• Mozambique
• Prevalence
• South Africa
• Uganda
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Other ID:

• GWAIDS0004443

UI: 102241940

From Meeting Abstracts