Table 2 The respondents' knowledge on HIV/AIDS
From: AIDS knowledge and attitudes in a Turkish population: an epidemiological study
Knowledge items (Alpha 0.891 for the below 34 items) | Yes n(%) | No n(%) | Don't know n(%) |
|---|---|---|---|
General knowledge: | |||
1 A virus causes AIDS | 794(75.8)√ | 87(8.3) | 167(15.9) |
2 AIDS is a contagious disease | 964(92.0)√ | 46(4.4) | 38(3.6) |
3 AIDS is a hereditary disease | 394(37.6) | 496(47.3)√ | 158(15.1) |
4 There is an active treatment for AIDS | 305(29.1) | 545(52.0)√ | 198(18.9) |
5 AIDS is mostly seen in the developing or underdeveloped countries, mostly in countries least able to afford to care for infected people | 511(48.8)√ | 403(38.5) | 134(12.8) |
6 AIDS is not a serious disease. It is a simple disease like the common cold | 85(8.1) | 904(86.3)√ | 59(5.6) |
7 A person infected with HIV does not usually show any symptoms of the disease | 340(32.4)√ | 411(39.2) | 297(28.3) |
8 Resistance to other diseases in an individual with AIDS is rather low | 727(69.4)√ | 138(13.2) | 183(17.5) |
9 There is a vaccine for AIDS | 152(14.5) | 737(70.3)√ | 159(15.2) |
10 We can distinguish AIDS patients from others by their appearance | 242(23.1) | 561(53.5)√ | 245(23.4) |
11 The ELISA test is used to check for the HIV virus in the blood | 700(66.8)√ | 92(8.8) | 256(24.4) |
12 Urine, X-ray, total blood count and biochemistry analyses are used to check for the HIV virus in the blood | 314(30.0) | 433(41.3)√ | 301(28.7) |
HIV/AIDS can be contacted through: | |||
13 Sharing public toilets and swimming pools with an infected person | 350(33.4) | 560(53.4)√ | 138(13.2) |
14 Using an infected person's belongings such as clothes, comb, underwear and towel | 353(33.7) | 568(54.2)√ | 127(12.1) |
15 Sharing a razor blade with an infected person | 780(74.4) √ | 164(15.6) | 104(9.9) |
16 Touching an infected person, such as hugging, holding and shaking hands | 243(23.2) | 718(68.5)√ | 87(8.3) |
17 Sharing the food utensils of an infected person | 395(37.7) | 510(48.7)√ | 143(13.6) |
18 Exposure to an infected person who coughs or spits | 366(34.9) | 531(50.7)√ | 151(14.4) |
19 Having a tattoo done with the same devices after an infected person | 798(76.1)√ | 122(11.6) | 128(12.2) |
20 The bite of a mosquito | 312(29.8) | 468(44.7)√ | 268(25.6) |
21 Sharing injection needles or the surgical operation devices of an infected person | 933(89.0)√ | 50(4.8) | 65(6.2) |
22 Having a tooth extracted with the same devices after an infected person | 896(85.5)√ | 53(5.1) | 99(9.4) |
23 An infected pregnant woman's infecting her unborn baby | 816(77.9)√ | 82(7.8) | 150(14.3) |
24 Donating to another person the organs and tissue of an infected person | 819(78.1)√ | 84(8.0) | 145(13.8) |
25 Having vaginal sex with an infected person | 988(94.3)√ | 26(2.5) | 34(3.2) |
26 Having oral sex with an infected person | 741(70.7)√ | 148(14.1) | 159(15.2) |
27 Having anal sex with an infected person | 821(78.3)√ | 76(7.3) | 151(14.4) |
28 Receiving blood from an infected person | 981(93.6)√ | 28(2.7) | 39(3.7) |
29 The vaginal liquid of an infected person | 959(91.5)√ | 26(2.5) | 63(6.0) |
30 The sperm of an infected person | 950(90.6)√ | 45(4.3) | 53(5.1) |
31 The urine of an infected person | 327(31.2) | 505(48.2)√ | 216(20.6) |
32 The tears of an infected person | 171(16.3) | 659(62.9)√ | 218(20.8) |
33 The mucus or nasal fluid of an infected person | 167(15.9) | 652(62.2)√ | 229(21.9) |
34 The breast milk of an infected person | 657(62.7)√ | 191(18.2) | 200(19.1) |