Public and health staff knowledge about AIDS

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Abstract
A postal questionnaire to ascertain knowledge about AIDS was sent to 1000 members of the public and 1000 Health Authority employees in Walsall prior to the DHSS leaflet and TV advertising campaign. The survey showed a good knowledge in both groups about how AIDS is transmitted. There was some uncertainty about ways in which it is not transmitted, particularly amongst the public and the older age groups. Especially worrying was the number of people, both members of the public (26 per cent) and health staff (17.8 per cent), who thought they could catch AIDS from donating blood. The results of this study show the need to move on from telling people how they can catch AIDS. We must now tackle the more practical problems of bringing about the necessary behaviour change needed to follow-on from and make full use of this knowledge. There is also a need to dispel some remaining myths to help in breaking down the prejudices and fears which obstruct dealing with the problem in the best and most open way.

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