the attitude on AIDS

Report on Survey of Attitude, Knowledge

and Practice of Postgraduates in Chongqing University

Submitted by Zhongzhu

Civil Engineering School

Chongqing University ID: 20121602037t

June 15, 2013

Content

Abstract .................................................................................................. 3 1. Introduction ......................................................................................... 3 2. Literature Review ............................................................................... 3 3. Methodology ....................................................................................... 4 4. Results and Discussion ..................................................................... 5

4.1 Basic Knowledge about AIDS ................................................................... 6 4.2 Attitude towards AIDS ............................................................................. 6 4.3 Belief and Practice on AIDS ..................................................................... 8

5. Conclusion ........................................................................................... 8 Reference .................................................................................................. 9 Appendix................................................................................................. 10

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Abstract: Nowadays with people‟s health level raising, the issue of AIDS has caused wide public concern. So this paper focuses on understanding the status of AIDS knowledge, attitudes and behavior in graduate students and look for evidence for improving strategy support. Random cluster sample of pumping 72 respondents in Architecture and Urban Planning School students in Chongqing University were conducted through an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. According to the investigation, the respondents only had a basic knowledge about AIDS, their attitudes and behaviors on AIDS were not promising. So the college students should have a comprehensive system of health education of AIDS prevention.

1. Introduction

This study related to AIDS is carried out among the students whose major are civil engineering and architecture and urban planning in CQU to estimate their basic knowledge on AIDS/HIV and attitudes toward to the people infected HIV.

A cross-sectional questionnaire containing questions concerning knowledge about AIDS, sources of information, channels and attitudes toward people with HIV/AIDS was administered during sessions set up for that purpose. Meanwhile, the conclusion of this survey shows what the condition of the education about AIDS is and what is lacking for this.

In 1985, the first AIDS infection person is diagnosed with in China. Come so far, the number increases sharply over 7500,000 which is conservatively estimated. It is more and more important for people to acquaint AIDS and status quo of AIDS knowledge acquired by people. In this session, English is arranged in the schedule in which a essay about AIDS need to be studied. On account of the two reasons, this essay seems necessary.

In China, there is no systematic and pragmatic AIDS education programme for college students. There have been few reports on knowledge, attitudes and behavior with regard to HIV/AIDS among Chinese college students and attitudes of college students in provincial cities in China toward people with HIV/AIDS have been hardly reported at all. The study examines AIDS-related knowledge and attitude among students in Chongqing University with a special emphasis on discrepancies between knowledge and attitudes. The implications of these findings for health education are discussed with regard to AIDS prevention and control among college students, as well as in relation to the development of desirable attitudes toward people with HIV/AIDS.

This essay is divided into several parts as below:

Chapter 1 is introduction containing subject、purpose and outline of this essay.

Chapter 2 is literature review that expounds the findings of other researchers on AIDS and need for further investigation.

Chapter 3 describes the methodologies used in the study. It covers the works and procedures in planning the study, collection of data framework development and showcase illustration.

Chapter 4 presents the results of the survey and discusses the reason of the answers that have a high error rate.

Finally, conclusions of the present study are given in chapter 7 together with suggestions for future work.

2. Literature Review

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In the three decades since the AIDS was first identified, the body of research into the disease has been steadily growing. Today this research covers a wide range of topics ranging from strictly medical studies to the social and demographic implications of the study as well as to research into interventions and best practices that may help to halt the spread of the disease.

Lots of researches have been carried on. In China, there had been conducted a questionnaire survey by Tim (2002) of which random sample of adults ranged from ages 18 -70 years, with various levels of education , and with different occupations and monthly income. Disparities in HIV/AIDS awareness exist among people with different social backgrounds. The research shows that there is fairly widespread awareness of HIV/AIDS and its existence in China. Many people seem aware of the link between blood and HIV infection, due to the wide publicity of whole villages being HIV infected from selling blood under unsafe conditions in which the same needle was used and blood was pooled and injected. However, there is still a lack of understanding of many aspects of HIV and AIDS in China, including the key role of condom use, particularly with non-regular and commercial sex partners. Chinese traditional culture and its shrouded attitude towards sex and sexuality have fuelled the populations' ignorance surrounding HIV and AIDS. Open discussions about HIV are still rare, as is officially sanctioned sex education and discussion in the public media.

In Hong Kong, a population of the survey conducted by Lau and Tsui(2006) based cross sectional telephone survey was conducted. A total of 808 Chinese aged 18-50 randomly selected from the general population participated in the study, which concluded that the general public in Hong Kong has formed some negative perceptions of PLWHA. Discriminatory attitudes towards PLWHA are common and cover different aspects of their life. Intervention programs are warranted and an integrated approach is required.

Another survey carried on by Maswanya and Moji(2000) showed that The main source of information for AIDS awareness as reported by the students was the mass media. Very little communication regarding HIV/AIDS occurred between themselves and their parents or teachers. This suggests the importance of involving parents, teachers and students in AIDS education programs. The stimulation of interest in parents and teachers concerning HIV/AIDS may educate themselves and their children/students and may counter unnecessary fear and/or discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS.

However, these three surveys above were aim at general public and the respondents‟ age range was too wide. It can‟t reflect the people‟s with high level of education knowledge of and attitude toward AIDS. Hence the survey toward graduate students is worth a deeper research.

3. Methodology

72 graduate students from Chongqing University took part in a paper survey in March 2013. Half of the respondents are from Architecture and Urban Planning School and the others are from

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Civil Engineering School .Their age ranges from 23 to 25.The survey about knowledge of AIDS/HIV was conducted in a class from PPT. All those surveyed completed the questionnaire and the results were processed accordingly by Mrs. Chen.

4. Results & Discussion

A survey about knowledge and attitudes toward to HIV infection and individuals with AIDS was carried out among postgraduates of Architecture and Urban Planning School and in Civil Engineering School in Chongqing University. And a total of 72 completed questionnaires were collected.

4.1 Basic Knowledge about AIDS

Table 1 students’ basic knowledge about AIDS Variables Have you ever heard about AIDS? AIDS is acquired Immure Deficiency Syndrome. HIV is a human immunodeficiency virus. How long can the HIV survive after leaving human body? carrier. After a long period of development, they become AIDS patients. AIDS can be cured There is an effective vaccine 55% 83% Correct answer (%) 100% 98.6% 96% 72% 94% The people who are injected with AIDS virus are just AIDS virus The table shows that most of the respondents have known the basic knowledge about AIDS, such as what is AIDS, HIV and AIDS patients. While only 72% of the respondents knew how long can the HIV survive after leaving human body, even nearly half of the respondents don‟t know whether AIDS can be cured, and only 83% of the respondents were aware of no effective vaccine for AIDS.

From the results we can see that the graduate students only know the really basic knowledge, when facing the medical treatment, they made mistakes.

Table 2 the channel AIDS transmitted

Channel Share an injection needle when taking drug Blood transfusion with untested blood Treatment/mending tooth with unsterilized equipment Mother with AIDS gives birth to the baby Mosquito bites Shake, hug with an AIDS person Page 5

Correct answer (%) 100% 100% % 94% 55% 100%

Polite kiss on check with an AIDS person AIDS person‟s sneezing and coughing Talk with an AIDS person in short distance Have dinner with an AIDS person Share the public facilities (e.g. toilet, swimming pool, bath) with an AIDS person Sexual intercourse without safety measure 99% 83% 94% 92% 82% 97% The table shows that the respondents understood the most of channels of AIDS transmitting, while many mistakes appeared on strange channels as show in the red in the table above. For instance10% respondents thought treatment/mending tooth with unsterilized equipment won‟t transmit AIDS.41% respondents believed that mosquito biting is easy to transmit AIDS.16% respondents felt AIDS person‟s sneezing and coughing dangerous. 12% respondents didn‟t want to share the public facilities (e.g. toilet, swimming pool, bath ) with an AIDS person.

The results reflect that when faced with AIDS, the respondents may feel threatened, so they hope stay as far as they can away from AIDS, hence ,the mistakes occur.

Table 3 measures of preventing HIV Measures Keep to a single sex partner Use condom when having sex Not share a needle with anyone Be cautious about getting blood transfusion Timely cure other sex diseases Take HIV test before getting pregnancy No breast feeding to the baby when mother is infected with HIV Not living in the same room with a HIV person True 90% 97% 99% 100% 58% 97% 85% 74% The table shows that majority of people have known how to prevent HIV infection. But for some of the measures they have incorrect ideas，such as 36% respondents thought that other sex diseases needn‟t be timely cured,14% respondents hold the view that breast feeding to the baby when mother is infected with HIV and 26% respondents thought living in the same room with a HIV person is easy to inflect AIDS.

Thankfully, nearly the whole rate in the table is over 70%. Maybe the respondents‟ fear of AIDS made them cautious and learned how to protect themselves.

4.2 Attitude towards AIDS

Table 4 Attitude toward AIDS I

Variables Only the immoral people get AIDS Anyone can be infected with AIDS Page 6

Correct response Rate of correct response Disagree Disagree 66(92%) 7(10%)

HIV/AIDS infected people should be separated from the health people For most people‟s benefits, the privacy of the HIV/AIDS people should not be stressed The employment/promotion of HIV/AIDS people should be restricted HIV/AIDS people‟s right to use public transportation, public facilities should be deprived of. Hospitals have right to reject treatment of HIV/AIDS people Schools have rights to refuse the attendance of the children whose close relatives are HIV/AIDS people Disagree Disagree Disagree Disagree Disagree Disagree 51(71%) 54(75%) 52(67%) 68(95%) 69(96%) 58(81%) From the table, we can know that many respondents didn‟t know how to face the AIDS and AIDS people correctly, the table shows that 29% respondents thought that HIV/AIDS infected people should be separated from the health people , 21% respondents hold the view that the privacy of the HIV/AIDS people should not be stressed For most people‟s benefits, more than one third people thought that the employment/promotion of HIV/AIDS people should be restricted, and 18% of the respondents required schools have rights to refuse the attendance of the children whose close relatives are HIV/AIDS people.

Table 5 Attitude toward AIDS II

Questions Could it be possible that a person who possible looks healthy is a HIV infected person? If one of your family members is treat him/her as before and keep living unfortunately infected with HIV, you together with him/her . will (choose only one item) 58% If you were a leader and found that keep the disease as a secret for him but let one of your employee was infected him go home . HIV/AIDS, you would Do you think the university should It is very essential educate students about AIDS? The information you want to know most (only one item) Do you think you have responsibility for the prevention of AIDS‟ spread? how to prevent being infected Yes Page 7

promised answers Rate of promised answer 97% 63% 75% 53% %

Who do you think should take the Everyone main responsibility for AIDS Yes not worried at all (30%) prevention? Do you want to be a volunteer？ infected HIV? 58% 42% Are you worried that you will be worried (14%) not much worried (56%) To protect yourself, what are you Use condom when having sex (88%) going to do (more than one items are Keep to a single sex partner (76%) allowed) Avoid sex outside of marriage I don‟t know (4%) The media you get most knowledge Newspaper(1%) about AIDS (only one item) TV (46%) Magazines(10%) Mouth-to-mouth from friends/parents (4%) Internet (39%) Worryingly, we can find that the respondents hadn‟t the consciousness of staying away from AIDS, they thought that they wouldn‟t infect AIDS. Only 63% of the respondents would treat their family who was infect AIDS as before and keep living together with him/her ,8% of the respondents would find another place for him/her to live alone and nearly one third respondents didn‟t know how to do. Just 29% respondents thought that the leaders should keep the disease as a secret for him and let him go on working, 58% respondents thought that the leaders should keep the disease as a secret for him but let him go home, and the rest of the respondents didn‟t know what to do. 30% of the respondents didn‟t worry they would be infected HIV at all, 56% of the respondents didn‟t much worry that, and 14% of the respondents worried that they would be injected HIV. Almost all of the respondents thought that the university should educate students about AIDS, 53% respondents most wanted to know how to prevent being infected HIV,18% respondents most wanted to know the transmission channels, and the rest of the respondents most wanted to know symptom of AIDS and treatment methods. When asking about the media of get knowledge about AIDS, most of the respondents are from TV(46%) and internet ( 39%).Just 58% of the respondents thought everyone should take the main responsibility for AIDS prevention, Even 18% respondents thought that the Health Administration Department and 12% respondents thought the HIV/AIDS patients should take the main responsibility. Less than half respondents wanted to be a volunteer about AIDS, and 58% respondents had no willingness to become a volunteer.

(79%) 4.3 Belief and Practice on AIDS

With more and more people were infected HIV/AIDS, people paid more and more attention to AIDS. Most people have known the basic knowledge, while they didn‟t know the transmission channels completely. Thus it isn‟t easy to protect themselves from AIDS. Maybe because they didn‟t care about the patients, they thought AIDS is far away, and paid no attention to the AIDS magazine and reports . According to the survey, many people expressed negative attitude towards

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AIDS and AIDS people, perhaps because they were afraid of the terrible virus, then they stayed far away from AIDS and AIDS patients.

5. Conclusion

In China, no systematic and pragmatic AIDS education is programmed for college students. There are few reports on knowledge, attitudes and behavior with regard to HIV/AIDS among Chinese college students and attitudes of college students toward people with HIV/AIDS have been hardly reported at all. AIDS is still a taboo topic. Because of conservative ideology originated from ancient China which has been lasted over 5000 years, Chinese is unwilling to put information like this in public occasion. Just for the lack of AIDS education, there is discrimination toward to the people with AIDS/HIV in society. Lots of people still don‟t acquaint AIDS very much, so they often make mistakes.

Account of the status quo about AIDS above, systematic AIDS education should be programmed for college students, all the society best. There should be more volunteers to appeal for tolerance for the people with AIDS. More activities about AIDS should be carried out to popularize AIDS knowledge to get people rid of mistakes on AIDS.

Reference

Lau and Sui ，H，Y.“Discriminatory attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS and associated factors: a population based study in the Chinese general population” The Shouxi, Retrieved April,30,2011,from http://journal.shouxi.net/html/qikan/pfbxyxbx/xcsgryxqk/20054812/20080831180105235_214232.html .

Maswanya,K.Moji,K.Aoyagi,Y.Yahata,Y.Kusano,K.Nagata,T.IzumiandT.Takemoto(2000).“Knowledge and attitudes toward AIDS among female college students in Nagasaki,Japan”.„HEALTH EDUCATION RESEARCH Theory & Practice‟.Vol.15 no.1 PP5-11 Tim .pdf

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Manchester ‘Attitudes towards HIV/AIDS in China’.PP5.Retrieved(May

4,2011),fromhttp://www.kaisernetwork.org/health_cast/uploaded_files/futures_group_09.24.02

Appendix:

Knowledge, Attitude, Beliefs and Practice on AIDS

Total NO. of valid answer: 72

Architecture and Urban Planning School Civil Engineering School

Age: 23-25

1. Have you ever heard about AIDS? (one choice)

A Yes, I heard it 72 (100%) B. No, I never heard it.

C. I don‟t know

2. AIDS is

A. a sex disease B. a blood disease 1 ( 1.4%) C. Acquired Immure Deficiency Syndrome 71 (98.6%) D. homosexual disease

3. HIV is

A. a shorten name for an organization of preventing AIDS 2 (2.8%) B. an AIDS vaccine 1 (1.4%)

C. human immunodeficiency virus 69 (96%) D. an effective medicine for AIDS treatment

4. How long can the HIV survive after leaving human body? A. HIV will not die forever 6 (8%)

B. HIV dies after leaving human body immediately 14 (20%)

C. HIV dies in a few minutes or tens minutes after leaving human body. 52 (72%)

5. Which statement is correct? A. The people who are infected AIDS virus are AIDS patient 4 (6%) B. The people who are infected with AIDS virus are just AIDS virus carrier. After a long

period of development, they become AIDS patient 68 (94%)

6. Please select Statement 6.1 AIDS can not be cured 6.2 There is an effective vaccine True 40 (55%) 9 (12.5%) False 25 (35%) 60 (83%) I don‟t know 7 (10%) 3 (4.5%)

7. What channel do you think the AIDS is transmitted? Channel 7.1 Share an injection needle when taking drug 7.2 Blood transfusion with untested blood True 72 (100%) 72 (100%) False 7 (10%) I don‟t know 1 (1%) 7.3 Treatment/mending tooth with unsterilized (%) equipment Page 10

7.4 Mother with AIDS gives birth to the baby 7.5 Mosquito bites 7.6 Shake, hug with an AIDS person 7.7 Polite kiss on check with an AIDS person 7.8 AIDS person‟s sneezing and coughing 7.9 Talk with an AIDS person in short distance 7.10 Have dinner with an AIDS person 68(94%) 29(41%) 1(1%) 11(16%) 4(6%) 5(7%) 4(6%) 40(55%) 71(99%) 60(83%) 68 (94%) 66(92%) 59(82%) 2(3%) 3(4%) 1(1%) 1(1%) 4(6%) 72(100%) 7.11 Share the public facilities (e.g. toilet, 9(12%) swimming pool, bath) with an AIDS person 7.12 Sexual intercourse without safety measure 70(97%)

8. What are effective means to prevent HIV infection? Measures 8.1 Keep to a single sex partner 8.2 Use condom when having sex 8. 3 Not share a needle with anyone 8.4 Be cautious about getting blood transfusion 8.5 Timely cure other sex diseases 8.6 Take HIV test before getting pregnancy True 65(90%) 70(97%) 71(99%) 42(58%) 70(97%) False 7(10%) 2(3%) 1(1%) 26(36%) 2(3%) 10(14%) 53(74%) I don‟t know 4(6%) 1(1%) 72(100%) 8.7 No breast feeding to the baby when mother is 61(85%) infected with HIV 8.8 Not living in the same room with a HIV person 9. Do you agree with the following statement? Statement 9.1 Only the immoral people get AIDS 9.2 Anyone can be infected with AIDS Agree 5(7%) 19(26%) Disagree I don‟t know 66(92%) 1(1%) 3(4%) 1(1%) 1(1%) 1(1%) 1(1%) 65(90%) 7(10%) 9.3 HIV/AIDS infected people should be separated 21(29%) 51(71%) from the health people 9.4 For most people‟s benefits, the privacy of the 15(21%) 54(75%) HIV/AIDS people should not be stressed 9.5 The employment/promotion of HIV/AIDS people 23(32%) 52(67%) should be restricted 9.6 HIV/AIDS people‟s right to use public 3(4%) transportation, public facilities should be deprived of. 9.7 Hospitals have right to reject treatment of 2(3%) HIV/AIDS people 68(95%) 69(96%) 9.8 Schools have rights to refuse the attendance of the 13(18%) 58(81%) children whose close relatives are HIV/AIDS people 10. Could it be possible that a person who looks healthy is a HIV infected person? A. Possible 70 (97%) B. Impossible C. I don‟t know 2(3%)

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11. If one of your family members is unfortunately infected with HIV, you will (choose only one item)

A. treat him/her as before and keep living together with him/her 45 (63%) B. find another place for him/her to live alone 6(8%) C. not know what to do 21(29%)

12. If you were a leader and found that one of your employee was infected HIV/AIDS, you would A. keep the disease as a secret for him and let him go on working 21(29%) B. keep the disease as a secret for him but let him go home 42(58%) C. publicize his disease and fire him 0 D. not know what to do. 9(13%)

13. Are you worried that you will be infected HIV?

A. worried 10(14%) B. not much worried 40 (56%) C. not worried at all 22(30%)

14. To protect yourself, what are you going to do (more than one items are allowed) A. Use condom when having sex 63(88%) B. Keep to a single sex partner 55(76%) C. Avoid sex outside of marriage 57(79%) D. I don‟t know 3(4%)

15. Do you think the university should educate students about AIDS?

A. It is very essential 54(75%) B. it is necessary 18(25%) C. It is not necessary

16. The information you want to know most (only one item) A. how to prevent being infected 38(53%) B. the transmission channels 13(18%) C. symptom of AIDS and treatment methods 21(29%)

17. The media you get most knowledge about AIDS (only one item)

A. Newspaper 1 (1%) B. TV 33(46%) C. Magazines 7(10%) D. Mouth-to-mouth from friends/parents 3(4%) E. Internet 28(39%)

18. Do you think you have responsibility for the prevention of AIDS‟ spread? A. Yes, (%) B. No 2(3%) C. I don‟t know 6 (8%)

19. Who do you think should take the main responsibility for AIDS prevention?( only one item) A. Central government 4(5%) B. Local government 4(5%) C. Health Administration Department 13(18%) D. HIV/AIDS patients 9(12%) E. Everyone 42(58%)

20. Do you want to be a volunteer？ A. Yes 30(42%) B. No 42(58%)

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