Abstract: The researchers examined the attitudes of college undergraduates toward persons diagnosed with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and their knowledge of these medical conditions. The subjects consisted of 59 Springfield College students pursuing degrees in either the Education or Rehabilitation programs. All participants were enrolled in their junior year at the time of the study. Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and attitudes toward persons with HIV/AIDS were measured using questions adapted from the Survey on HIV/AIDS (Gray & Harding, 1990).
Abstract: This study investigated nursing student attitudes and knowledge about HIV/AIDS at different levels of study in nursing and the association between attitudes and knowledge. Participant attitudes were measured using the HIV Impact Questionnaire: Student Form. Knowledge was measured with questions adapted from Ferguson, Cox, Irving, Leiter, & Farnsworth' (1995) measure. A convenience sample of 146 baccalaureate students from a large Midwestern college of Nursing completed a self-administered questionnaire. Both knowledge (F=7.31, p=.001) and attitudes (F=5.80, p=.004) about HIV/AIDS significantly improved with year of study in nursing. There was a positive correlation between attitudes and knowledge (r=.31, p
In order to test for factors predicting AIDS-preventive safe sexual behavior, a battery comprising a demographic questionnaire, an AIDS Self-Efficacy questionnaire, a Sexual Behavior Index, and an AIDS Awareness Survey were administered to 118 undergraduate students (ages 19-28, 93% African American) at a predominantly African American state-supported university in the southeastern US. Possible predictors tested were gender, self-efficacy, perceived self-efficacy while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, knowledge about HIV/AIDS, and source of knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Under multiple linear regression, there were statistically significant correlations between each of these predictor variables and safe sexual behavior. Under a full model regression, self-efficacy was the only significant factor to predict safe sex practices. The study supported the effectiveness of the university's system of programs to provide HIV information to students. Implications for nursing are discussed.
Knowledge about transmission of HIV and AIDS, the attitude towards the people living with AIDS has a critical impact on prevention of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Knowledge on modes of transmission, prevention alongside was assessed amongst the UEAB students in Nandi County. School based cross-sectional survey of 180 students selected through probability sampling (94 males and 86 females). A pretested questionnaire was administered to assess knowledge and attitude of the students on HIV/AIDS. Knowledge and attitude scores were generated from the students' responses and multi variable linear regression was used to study the association of these scores with select predictor variables (notably age, year of study and school of study). Most students in the sample knew about their HIV status. A good proportion (85%) knew that AIDS is not curable. This study identified substantial lacunae in the knowledge of and attitude towards AIDS. HIV and AIDS education should be strengthened among the general population, especially among youths.
This study utilized a quantitative, cross-sectional, survey design to explore the knowledge and attitudes, including stereotypes, held by graduate social work students towards People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). It specifically studied the relationship between the following two identified areas: (1) knowledge about the HIV virus, epidemic, and best-practices in working with PLWHA; and (2) personal biases towards those commonly infected. A nonprobability, purposive sample of 72 MSW II graduate students constituted the respondents of this study. Study findings indicate that respondents who were least comfortable providing HIV services endorsed higher levels of blaming PLWHA for contracting their disease, higher levels of personal bias towards HIV-positive pregnant women or parents, and AIDS phobia. Respondents who indicated that they were most comfortable providing HIV services, also expressed that they have attained a greater amount of information regarding HIV/AIDS treatments within their MSW program. T-tests for independent groups found that students who identified as religious were less comfortable delivering HIV services to clients, and endorsed higher levels of HIV stigma than students who identified as non-religious. The common types of HIV stigma that were endorsed at higher levels by respondents who identified as religious included: homophobia, transphobia, victim blame, AIDS phobia, and bias toward HIV-positive pregnant women or parents. Age emerged as a factor in the existence of bias, students over the age of 30 reported increased levels of bias towards commonly stigmatized HIV/AIDS groups than those in the 20 - 29 age range, this included homophobia, racism, and AIDS phobia. Additionally, findings indicate that students who had previously encountered an HIV-positive client at their field placement were more comfortable discussing HIV-related topics. Although majority of respondents fared well on the knowledge about HIV Transmission Quiz, detailed content about HIV/AIDS, including the HIV Treatment Quiz was poorly identified by the respondents with several unsure and incorrect answers. Recommendations include the imperative need to develop inclusive curriculum that integrates the diversity competencies required in the graduate social work program, with the competent knowledge and attitudinal requirements for helping PLWHA.
