Social workers' knowledge about AIDS: working with vulnerable and oppressed people

This study assessed social workers' differential knowledge about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. A questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 500 members of the National Association of Social Workers in July 1988. Results show that social workers have the most information regarding transmission of HIV infection and the least information about the effects of HIV on specific subpopulations. Of particular concern was that respondents who stated they had either a personal or professional reason for being knowledgeable about acquired immune deficiency syndrome were no more informed about minority issues than those who did not think they had a personal or professional reason for being knowledgeable.