Public reactions to people with HIV/AIDS in The Netherlands

A national telephone survey was conducted to (a) assess present-day public reactions to people with HIV/AIDS in the Netherlands, (b) measure how knowledge about highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is related to public reactions to people with HIV/AIDS, and (c) investigate determinants of willingness to have personal contact with people with HIV/AIDS. Dutch adults (N = 751) participated in a telephone interview conducted to measure cognitive, emotional, and behavioral reactions to people with HIV/AIDS. This study has shown that public reactions to people with HIV/AIDS seem to be moderately positive in the Netherlands. Knowledge about HAART is related to lower risk perceptions, a positive attitude toward homosexuals, less fear, and more willingness to have personal contact with people with HIV/AIDS. In particular, cognitive and emotional factors are meaningfully related to willingness to have personal contact with people with HIV/AIDS. Implications for Dutch AIDS educational campaigns aimed at stigma reduction are discussed.