Out of Focus: Children's Conceptions of AIDS

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Abstract
A group of 75 ethnically diverse fifth graders were evaluated on their understanding of HIV/AIDS before any systematic HIV education occurred. Information was collected through use of focus groups consisting of several children led in discussion by two moderators. Children generally demonstrated a superficial understanding of HIV, with many misconceptions about casual contact. Although televised information about HIV was well known, their underlying conceptions of the disease were more naive than anticipated. For most children, explanations of HIV transmission were based on association or magical thinking rather than causality. Their immature understanding seemed to be due to anxiety, generally not disclosed to others, about contracting HIV. Focus groups were effective in evaluating the children's process of understanding and may be a valuable teaching device as well.

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