Young people learning about AIDS: a study of beliefs and information sources

Conducted a study of the views of 690 Scottish teenagers (aged 16–18 yrs) and 318 undergraduates on health education issues relevant to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Ss returned a postal questionnaire designed to measure a range of relevant cognitions. These included levels of concern, perceived knowledge, perceived vulnerability, perceived seriousness, recall of health education campaigns, preferred information sources, and views on the discussion of the HIV and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) with significant others. Low levels of perceived vulnerability, high levels of recall for national campaigns, and discrepancies between used and credible sources of information are reported. Cohort and gender differences and correspondences with American and Australian studies are discussed. The implications of these findings for future AIDS education campaigns are also considered.