Knowledge of HIV infection and the fear of mixing socially with HIV-infected and AIDS-sick patients among STD patients in Bergen, Norway

Abstract

This is a study of data from 599 STD (sexually transmitted disease) clinic patients in Bergen, Norway who visited the clinic in April-June 1989. We studied the patients' knowledge of modes of HIV transmission and their degree of ignorance of how HIV is not transmitted. Particular interest was focused on how misconceptions influenced the respondents' perception of HIV/AIDS sick persons and the importance of confidence in AIDS information from the health authorities. The objective of the study was to compare the data from this investigation of STD patients with data from similar studies in the general public conducted in Norway between 1986 and 1991. HIV-infected blood (98.3%; 589/599) and unprotected vaginal intercourse (91%; 545/599) were frequently suggested as a mode of HIV transmission, while 22.4% (134/599) did not recognize anal sex as an unsafe sexual practice. There was no statistically significant difference in their knowledge of modes of HIV transmission between the following patient subgroups: homosexuals/bisexuals, intravenous drug users (IVDUs)/prostitutes, sex customers and respondents classified as ‘other heterosexuals’. Regarding ways in which HIV is not transmitted, ignorance was first and foremost related to whether the HIV virus could be passed on by oral kissing (wrong: 38.5%). Knowledge of how HIV is not transmitted was positively correlated with education ( p <0.05) and confidence in the HIV/AIDS information from health authorities ( p <0.05), and negatively correlated with age ( p <0.05). Respondents knowing how HIV is not transmitted considered social contact with HIV/AIDS sick persons to be harmless ( p <0.001). The present information campaigns on HIV/AIDS have been less effective than expected. In the future we must find new ways of informing the public by identifying the essential components that are missing from the information campaigns we have today.