Surveillance of discriminatory attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS among the general public in Hong Kong from 1994 to 2000.
OBJECTIVE
This study monitored the level of discriminatory attitudes toward people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) exhibited by the general public in Hong Kong from 1994 to 2000.


METHODS
A series of six cross-sectional telephone surveys using an identical method and a structured questionnaire were conducted. A total of 6,795 respondents aged 18 - 50 randomly selected from the general population participated in the study.


RESULTS
Over the study period, the level of discriminatory attitudes toward PLWHA exhibited by the public has been improved slightly. For instance, fewer respondents in 2000 (10.6%) than in 1994 (21.8%) agreed that an HIV infected person should move out of the household (chi(2) test for trend, p < 0.001). However, there remained about one third who would avoid a friend infected with HIV (chi(2) test for trend, p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that misconceptions about HIV transmission routes remained strongly associated with the discriminatory attitudes toward PLWHA; other significant factors included exposure to TV Announcement of Public Interest on HIV/AIDS-related issues and perceived chance of HIV infection as a result of having homosexual behaviours.


CONCLUSIONS
Though some improvement has been observed, the level of discriminatory attitudes is still high. Sustained education to remove misconceptions about HIV infection is much required.
Lau
Joseph T F
JT
Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. jlau@cuhk.edu.hk
Tsui
H Y
HY
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011287:Prejudice; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires