title: Public reactions to people with HIV/AIDS in The Netherlands.
abstract: A national telephone survey was conducted to (a) assess present-day public reactions to people with HIV/AIDS in the Netherlands, (b) measure how knowledge about highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is related to public reactions to people with HIV/AIDS, and (c) investigate determinants of willingness to have personal contact with people with HIV/AIDS. Dutch adults (N = 751) participated in a telephone interview conducted to measure cognitive, emotional, and behavioral reactions to people with HIV/AIDS. This study has shown that public reactions to people with HIV/AIDS seem to be moderately positive in the Netherlands. Knowledge about HAART is related to lower risk perceptions, a positive attitude toward homosexuals, less fear, and more willingness to have personal contact with people with HIV/AIDS. In particular, cognitive and emotional factors are meaningfully related to willingness to have personal contact with people with HIV/AIDS. Implications for Dutch AIDS educational campaigns aimed at stigma reduction are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Maastricht University, The Netherlands. Arjan.Bos@ou.nl
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Bos
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kok
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dijker
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003625:Data Collection; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011639:Public Opinion
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents