AIDS-related knowledge and attitude of high school students in Holon, Israel

Four-hundred-and-eight high school students in the town of Holon, Israel, completed a questionnaire concerning their knowledge of HIV and AIDS, and their attitude towards the disease and the people affected by it. The highest scores for knowledge were amongst the 15-16 age group. Eighty-nine per cent of the students gave correct answers concerning the three major ways of HIV transmission: unprotected sex with HIV positive partner, sharing contaminated needles, and receiving contaminated blood transfusions. Students of the 14-16 age group expressed more tolerant attitude towards AIDS and HIV patients than the 16-18 age group (P < 0.002). Nineteen per cent of the pupils are of the opinion that students diagnosed as HIV positive should not be allowed to continue their regular studies as they can endanger their fellow students. Twenty-eight per cent of the students declared that they would sever their relations with close friends diagnosed as HIV positive. Thirty-six per cent think it is not justified to compel medical staff to treat HIV positive patients. The attitude of the students towards an HIV positive 1-year-old adopted baby was divided as follows: 30 per cent think that the baby should be returned to the agency that handled the adoption, while 48 per cent think that the adopting parents should continue to care for him. The five principal sources of knowledge from which the students have learned about AIDS were: television (93 per cent); newspapers and periodicals (90 per cent); school education and biology classes (40 per cent); parents (39 per cent); and books (popular medical) (36 per cent).