Differences in Tunisian adolescents' knowledge; misconceptions and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS from 1997 to 2002

ABSTRACT

Surveys were conducted to estimate the extent to which knowledge; misconceptions and attitudes of adolescents in Tunisia towards HIV/AIDS had changed after a period of five years. A population of school-going adolescents of both sexes; age 16 to 20; was sampled in 1997 and again in 2002. We found that HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases became better known; there was more tolerance expressed for people living with AIDS; and the use of condoms was more positively judged. Fewer misconceptions surrounding the condition were also noted. However; many results recorded during the 1997 survey remained unchanged (e.g.; scepticism about awareness campaigns; TV as a primary source of information). We discuss the socio-economic and medical/social context in Tunisia during the period 1997-2002 that seemed to allow adolescents to improve their knowledge of HIV/AIDS and to acquire positive attitudes towards persons living with the condition