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Journal of Pediatric Psychology 20(5) pp. 671-686, 1995
© 1995 Society of Pediatric Psychology

research-article

Misconceptions About AIDS Among Children Who Can Identify the Major Routes of HIV Transmission1

Elizabeth A. Wells2,, Marilyn J. Hoppe, Edith E. Simpson, Mary R. Gillmore, Diane M. Morrison and Anthony Wilsdon

University of Washington School of Medicine, University of Washington School of Social Work

2All correspondence should be sent to Elizabeth A. Wells, Chidren's Health Awareness Project, Box 354900, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195.

Described knowledge about HIV transmission among 1,048 third, fourth, fifth, and sixth graders from a multiethnic urban school district. Participants answered questions about behaviors leading to HIV transmission and about mechanisms of transmission. Children at all grade levels demonstrated a high level of recognition of the three primary routes of HIV transmission (through sex, through drug needle sharing, and in utero). However, children who knew about these routes also had many misconceptions about the mechanisms involved in acquiring HIV through these routes and about the ways HIV is not transmitted. Misconceptions decreased with grade and socioeconomic status (SES). Although there were no race/ethnicity differences in knowledge of actual routes and mechanisms of HIV transmission, there were more misconceptions about routes and mechanisms of HIV transmission among African American and Asian American children than among white children.

Key words: AIDS; knowledge; development; children; adolescents.


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