[Information on AIDS among persons aged 16-20 years]

Abstract

In order to illustrate whether the AIDS and "Safe sex" campaigns have influenced young people, an investigation originally made in 1985 was repeated in October 1989; the objects being sexual knowledge, sexual experience and contraception among persons aged 16-20 years. A representative random sample consisting of 359 women (percentage replies 77.9) and 400 men (percentage replies 76.3) who were over 16 but not yet 21 years was interviewed personally by the professional interviewer staff of the Institute for Social Research. A total of 72% (n = 547) had been informed about AIDS at school, most of these were among the youngest participants. Simultaneously, 43% (n = 326) considered that school was the best source of information. School thus appears to be an effective channel of information about AIDS to young people. TV/radio were also found to be important channels of information while only few participants stated that they had received the best information in their homes. The majority of replies to questions about AIDS were in complete agreement with the messages in the informative campaigns. In conclusion, it is stated that the replies were markedly uniform without any obvious connection with sex, age, background or experience. Significantly more of the men, however, considered that their knowledge about AIDS was adequate.