Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #115914

Meric Colak, PhD, Department of Healthcare Administration, Baskent University School of Health Sciences, Eskisehir Yolu 20. Km., Baglica Kampusu, Ankara, 06530, Turkey, +903122341010, meric@baskent.edu.tr, Simten Malhan, School of Health Sciences, Department of Health Care Management, Baskent University, Eskisehir Yolu 20. Km., 06530, Ankara, Turkey, Ergun Oksuz, Medico Social Health Center, Baskent University, Baglica Kampusu, Eskisehir Yolu 20. Km, Ankara, 06530, Turkey, and Korkut Ersoy, Department of Health Care Management, Baskent University, School of Health Sciences, Eskisehir Yolu, 20. Km., Ankara, Turkey.

Adolescents are the key to the fight against HIV/AIDS. To better understand the university students reaction to HIV/AIDS, a multidimensional measure of stereotypes about AIDS questionnaire (100 question) was applied to 202 Baskent university senior level students in Ankara. Four categories of AIDS-related sterotypes (with multiple subscales in each category) are measured; Global sterotypic beliefs about AIDS (the need for AIDS-related education were slightly agreed, AIDS-related confidentiality were neither agreed nor disagreed, the transmission of AIDS were slightly disagreed, AIDS is caused by homesexuality were slightly disagreed, personal attitudes about AIDS (the desire to avoid those afflicted were slightly disagreed, AIDS was not perceived as self-relevant were slightly disagreed, a closeminded approach were disagreed, the issue of AIDS is being exaggerated were silightly disagreed, the notion that AIDS is a moral punishment were disagreed), medical issues about AIDS (the belief that AIDS is a threat to medical staff were slightly agreed, protecting to Turkish blood supply system from AIDS were slightly agreed, cure for AIDS were neither agreed nor disagreed,AIDS testing should be conducted were slightly agreed) sexual attitudes about AIDS (the relationship between AIDS and sexual activity were agreed. The particular objectives of this cross sectional study are also to assess the level of HIV/AIDS beliefs,knowledge and attitudes among youth in higher education. The data gathered from this study can be an essential source of information for the design and implementation of an HIV/AIDS prevention effort designed primarily for the needs of youth in higher education.

Learning Objectives:

• the learning objective of this study is to better understand the university students reaction to HIV/AIDS

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Youth Access

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.