Most Utahns don't believe a person can get AIDS by working near someone who has the disease, but many are still convinced that AIDS is transmitted from mosquitoes or other insects.
Myths surrounding AIDS still exist locally, according to a federally funded survey commissioned by the Utah Department of Health's Bureau of Epidemiology during the past two years.However, Utahns are eager for factual information about the disease that has already claimed the lives of 141 residents. An overwhelming 94.6 percent of those surveyed (across all demographic groups), support AIDS education for children in the public schools.
The survey, released Wednesday, was initiated to determine the attitudes and behaviors of adult Utahns regarding acquired immune deficiency syndrome.
Conducted through the University of Utah Survey Research Center, the results were obtained by telephone interviews with 849 adults (age 18 or older) randomly selected from throughout the state. The sample error was plus or minus 3.4 percent at the 95 percent confidence level for the total survey population.
Overall, health officials feel good about the results.
"The Bureau of Epidemiology is pleased that respondents were fairly well informed about AIDS in general and continued to support educational programs," state epidemiologist Craig Nichols said Wednesday. "There were relatively few differences on the general knowledge section attributable to age, sex, religious or marital status differences."
However, Nichols said health officials were disappointed by two responses.
"First, 17 percent of adults still believe that mosquitoes or insects might be able to transmit the AIDS virus," he said. "This belief has persisted despite (the lack of) any evidence that insect transmission is occurring. In addition, several studies have indicated that spread in this manner is extremely improbable."
Secondly, Nichols said the bureau thought most people knew that health departments throughout the state provide HIV counseling and testing.
Yet when asked, "Where in your community can people go to have a blood test for the AIDS virus infection?", 42 percent surveyed mentioned a hospital, emergency room, or clinic. Only 18 percent knew of the Health Department's extensive AIDS' program.
But then the majority surveyed obviously felt no need to identify testing sites. More than 81 percent reported they had never been tested for infection with the AIDS virus.
"This is consistent with the belief of more than 96 percent of the respondents who felt that they were at little or no risk of becoming infected," Nichols said.
Other responses substantiated this notion.
Most adults (81 percent) said they had not changed their sexual practices due to concern about AIDS. Of those who have changed their behavior, 43 percent use condoms more frequently; 85 percent have fewer sexual partners, and 23 percent have stopped having sex.
However, distribution of free condoms to people at risk for contracting the AIDS virus was supported by the majority - 62 percent - of persons surveyed.
Nichols said only 2 percent did not have an opinion on this question.
The majority of those interviewed concurred that the use of latex condoms is very effective in preventing the spread of the virus.
At the same time, less than 38 percent felt that free needles and syringes should be made available to intravenous drug addicts.
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Utahns split on mandatory testing
-Utahns were split about mandatory testing for the AIDS virus. Forty-eight percent agreed and 49 percent disagreed with the following survey statement: "All testing for the AIDS virus should be voluntary."
-A majority (68 percent) felt that people who knew their AIDS test results would be more likely to adopt safer sex practices compared to those who did not.
-More than 72 percent agreed that AZT, a drug that costs about $6,500 per year per person, should be made available regardless of the individual's ability to pay.
-Only 24 percent knew that the State Office of Education had developed an AIDS curriculum for use in Utah schools. Of those who knew the curriculum was available, only 37 percent had reviewed any materials to be used for education of students.
-Of adults who had full or shared responsibility for any children between ages 6 and 18, only 32 percent reported that any of their children had received instruction in schools about AIDS.
-Ninety-two percent of parents with children between 6 and 18 would allow their children to attend school with a classmate who has AIDS.
-Sixty-eight percent of parents had discussed with their children how sexual behavior contributes to infection with the AIDS virus, and 72 percent had discussed drug-using risk factors.