Knowledge about HIV/AIDS amongst the New Zealand public: 1987-9

Surveys of knowledge about AIDS were carried out in 1987 and again in 1989 amongst national samples of 1000 adult New Zealanders. During this period there was a general increase in knowledge about AIDS and a decrease in misconceptions about it. By 1989 97% of the sample knew that the virus could be transmitted through heterosexual activity and 99% knew the risks of needle sharing. Ninety-one percent knew there were no risks from touching and 80% no risks from sharing cutlery and crockery. The pattern of knowledge about AIDS was uneven throughout the population. Those with lower educational levels and those of Maori and Pacific Island descent were the least knowledgeable and the most desirous of more information. The major means of risk reduction, condom use and no needle sharing, were well known on both survey occasions. However, knowledge about limitation in partner numbers and avoidance of casual sex was less apparent in 1989 than 1987. Misconceptions about the dangers of blood donation and transfusion seem to have reduced. Only 4% now see blood donors as very much at risk down from 9% in 1987 and 32% see blood transfusion recipients as very much at risk down from 55% in 1987. Younger people appeared to know more about the transmission of the AIDS virus than did older people but they knew less about risk reduction methods.