Social workers' knowledge about AIDS: a national survey

A study was conducted to assess social workers' 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. Three hundred seventy-nine (75.8 percent) members responded, and limited demographic comparisons indicated that the sample was representative of the association's membership. Results showed that social workers have much to learn about acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS); less than half the questions were answered correctly. Respondents had the most information about transmission of the virus and the least information about the impact of the epidemic on specific populations. Of particular concern was the small number of respondents who reported that they had professional reasons for being knowledgeable about AIDS, given the pervasive nature of the AIDS epidemic and every social worker's professional responsibility to be knowledgeable about HIV infection.