Preliminary findings from the survey about AIDS for seventh and eighth graders (SASEG)

Four hundred and twelve seventh- and eighth grade students from a predominantly white, suburban, middle-class school were surveyed regarding their knowledge and attitudes about AIDS. The Survey about AIDS for Seventh and Eighth Graders (SASEG) utilized for the study is a 56-item, self-administered questionnaire that includes 26 multiple-choice knowledge items, 20 Likert-type attitude items, and 10 demographic/experiential items. Overall, students were judged to possess reasonably high knowledge levels and generally favorable attitudes regarding AIDS. However, there were several areas of misinformation and unfavorable attitudinal responses. A low positive relationship was found between knowledge and attitudes. Higher levels of knowledge and more favorable attitudes were associated with being female, being older, and having discussed AIDS with one's parents. Higher levels of knowledge were also associated with having had previous AIDS instruction and with not knowing someone with AIDS. These findings support the need for AIDS education in the pre-high school setting.