AIDS: a comparison of knowledge and attitudes among black, Hispanic and white Americans, 1990

Increasing awareness about AIDS is an important step toward the prevention of this disease. The AIDS Knowledge and Attitudes Survey of the National Health Interview Survey shows that more than 80 percent of U.S. adults are familiar with the major modes of AIDS transmission. Despite this, up to one-third still believe that AIDS can be spread by various forms of casual contact. In the three racial/ethnic groups studied, the less educated were less knowledgeable. Further, black and Hispanic adults lagged somewhat behind white adults in certain important aspects of AIDS knowledge. About one-fourth of white, black and Hispanic adults have had the HIV antibody test. While reasons for testing differed, most of the adults were tested in health care sites. Educational counseling that should accompany HIV testing is provided to less than half of those tested. Identifying gaps in knowledge can help to more effectively target AIDS educational efforts.