ABSTRACT
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of optimistic bias of female AIDS/HIV carriers before and after the health education in penitentiary.Methods: Two questionnaires including AIDS Events Questionnaires and AIDS Knowledge Scale are conducted among 57 female AIDS/HIV carriers after receiving health education in penitentiary.Results: Female AIDS/HIV carriers from the penitentiary had both type I and typeⅡoptimistic bias of AIDS/HIV;Female AIDS/HIV carriers from the penitentiary acquired significantly more knowledge after receiving health education,the health education of AIDS/HIV had significantly reduced the optimistic bias to AIDS/HIV.Conclusion: Health education of AIDS/HIV had notably changed the cognitive ability and reduced optimistic bias to AIDS/HIV of female AIDS/HIV carriers from the penitentiary,therefore effectively corrected their irrational ideas of AIDS/HIV.