title: Cultural conceptions of HIV/AIDS among teenagers in Bolivia, Chile and Mexico.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand the cultural dimensions of HIV/AIDS among adolescent students.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cognitive anthropological study was undertaken in Cochabamba (Bolivia), Talca (Chile) and Guadalajara (Mexico), during 2007 and 2008. A total of 184 teenagers (from 14 to 19 years old) were selected by purposeful sampling at secondary schools in each country. Free association lists and pile sorts were utilized. Terms associated with the concept of HIV/AIDS and groups of conceptual dimensions were investigated. Subsequently, consensus analysis was performed using factorial principal components and dimensional analysis through hierarchical clusters and multidimensional scales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The differences between the country contexts were in the degree of consensus in relation to the term HIV/AIDS, which was greater in Cochabamba. In Talca and Guadalajara the youths mentioned metaphors of fighting against HIV/AIDS, while in Cochabamba participants talked about help, support and love that infected people should receive. The similarities among conceptions by youth from the three countries were: the risk factors (unprotected sexual practice and contact with specific population groups), the consequences (physical and social death, being the latter understood as social rejection of people living with HIV/AIDS) and the prevention of illness (based on information and condom use).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For adolescent students, HIV/AIDS is a disease caused by sexual practices and drug use and involves harm, pain and death. HIV/AIDS prevention programs for adolescents should promote science based information on the topic and not concentrate only on the emotional and social consequences of HIV/AIDS.
authors.affiliation: Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, México. tere.torres.cucs@gmail.com
authors.forename: Teresa Margarita
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Torres López
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reynaldos Quinteros
authors.forename: Aldo Favio
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Lozano González
authors.forename: Jazmín Aranzazú
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Munguía Cortés
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000208:ethnology; D000293:Adolescent; D001838:Bolivia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult