From Vital and Health Statistics of the National Center for Health Statistics Number 146 . November 19, 1987 

AIDS Knowledge and Attitudes 

Provisional Data From the National Health Interview Survey: 

United States, August 1987 

by Deborah A. Dawson, Ph. D., Marcie Cynamon, M.A.,


and Joseph E. Fitti, M.S.P.H., Division of Health Interview Statistics


Introduction 

The National Center for Health Statistics has introduced questions on the adult population’s knowledge and 

uttitudcs about acquired immunodeficieney syndrome 

(AIDS) in the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). 

This report presents provisional findings for August, the 

first month of data collection with the AIDS questionnaire. 

The AIDS questionnaire was designed to provide baselirm estimates of public knowledge and attitudes about 

AIDS transmission and prevention of AIDS virus infection 

and changes in knowledge and attitudes over time. Data 

also were needed for the planning and development of 

AIDS educational campaigns and for evaluation of educational efforts. 

The AIDS questionnaire was developed by the National Center for Health Statistics and interagency working 

groups established by the Information, Education and Risk 

Factor Reduction Subcommittee of the Public Health Service Executive Task Force on AIDS. The working groups 

included representatives from the Centers for Disease Control; the National Institutes of Health; the Alcohol, Drug 

Abuse and Mental Health Administration; and the Health 

Resources and Services Administration. 

The questionnaire includes items on self-assessment of 

knowledge about AIDS; sources of information about 

AIDS; knowledge about AIDS and AIDS-related risk factors, modes of transmission, and blood tests for the AIDS 

virus; plans to take such a test; recent experience with 

blood donation; self-assessment of chances of getting 

AIDS; personal knowledge of people with AIDS or the 

AIDS virus; and finally, the willingness of respondents to 

take part in a proposed national seroprevalence study. 

This report presents provisional data for all AIDS 

questionnaire items. Table 1 displays percent distributions 

of persons 18 years of age and over by response categories 

according to age, sex, race, and marital status. In most 

cases, the actual question asked of the respondent is reproduced verbatim in table 1, along with the response categories. In a few cases, questions or response categories have 

been rephrased or combined. Refusals and other nonresponses are excluded tlom the denominator in the calculation of estimates, but responses of “don’t know” are 

included. 

Selected findings 

Awareness o~AZllS-Virtually everyone (more than 99 

percent) has heard of AIDS. Almost three-fourths of adults 

(74 percent) last saw, heard, or read something about 

AIDS within 3 days of the NHIS interview. 

Self-perceivedknowledge-Twenty percent of adults 18 

years of age and over feel that they know a lot about AIDS 

(compared to most people); 40 percent feel they know 

some; 30 percent feel they know a little; and 10 percent feel 

they know nothing about AIDS. Adults 50 years and over 

are more likely than younger adults to state that they know 

nothing about AIDS and less likely to think that they know 

a lot. Black respondents (17 percent) are almost hvice as 

likely as white respondents (9 percent) to state that they 

know nothing about AIDS. 

General knowledge-Figure 1 shows the percents answering “definitely true” and “probably true” to selected 

knowledge questions. The majority of respondents are certain that AIDS leads to death (89 percent) and that there is 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES . Public Health Service � Centers for Disease Control 
2 advancedata 

- Definitely true = Probably tr.e 

AIDS leads to death 

There is no cure for AIDS at present 

Any person with the AIDS virus can pass it on to 

someone etse through sexual intercourse 

A pregnant woman who has the AIDS virus can give AIDS 

to her baby 

AIDS can cripple the body’s natural protection against 

disease 

A person can be infected with the AIDS virus and not 

have the disease AIDS ... .?’, . ;.:.4 :.... . . ., 

.: ..,,:: .. ... .. . .. ;s’. ?:.,’ AIDS is a disease caused by a virus . . ,, ... . ‘,-,..; ..’,, :. : :, .. . . . .. . .: 

, +: ,.. - . . . ; ,. ;:, 

~ ?:~J.:,.-:x’~: .:’ . .57 The AIDS virus can damage the brain ,.. -.::.;. :.> ,7. ..-. ?.::”, f : .,.. , 

. : - ..C?.2:T. ,,.:...’,, ---- ,-..,..,.. ”. : 

I I 1 I I I o 20 40 60 80 100 

Percent 

SOURCE National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health Interview Statistic, National Health Interview Survey. 

Figure 1. Provisional estimates of percent of adults 18 years of age and 

or probably true United States, August 1987 

no cure for AIDS at present (83 percent). Three-fourths of 

adults think that it is definitely true that anyone with the 

AIDS virus can transmit it to other individuals through 

sexual intercours~ another 18 percent think that it is 

probably true. About two-thirds of the adults in the United 

States definitely think that AIDS can cripple the body’s 

natural protection against disease and that a pregnant 

woman can transmit AIDS to her baby. 

There is less certainty about the causes of AIDS and 

about the relationship between the AIDS virus and the 

disease AIDS: 44 percent of adults definitely believe that a 

virus causes AIDS, and 31 percent think that this is probably true; 50 percent are certain that a person can be 

infected with the AIDS virus and not have the disease 

AIDS, and 27 percent think that this is probably true. 

Adults are less informed about the specific ways that AIDS 

can affect its victims than about its causes; for example, 24 

percent are certain that the AIDS virus can damage the 

brain. For the most part, the lowest levels of general 

knowledge are found among adults 50 years of age and 

over, consistent with their own self-assessment as a group 

that they know relatively little about the disease. 

Transmission of the AIDS virus-Most Americans are 

aware of the ways in which the AIDS virus is most likely to 

be transmitted. More than 9 out of 10 adults say that it is 

very likely that a person will get AIDS from having sex with 

a person who has AIDS (92 percent) or by sharing needles 

for drug use with someone who has AIDS (91 percent). On 

the other hand, the level of misinformation about modes of 

transmission, particularly from casual contact, is very high. 

For example, donating blood is considered a likely mode of 

over who think selected statements about AIDS are definitely true 

transmission by 25 percent; working near someone with 

AIDS by 21 percent; sharing eating utensils with someone 

who has AIDS by 47 percent; using public toilets by 31 

percent; and being bitten by mosquitoes or other insects by 

38 percent. 

Black respondents are significantly more likely than 

white respondents to perceive a threat of AIDS virus 

infection from receiving a blood transfusion, donating 

blood, using public toilets, or various other types of casual 

contact with persons who have AIDS. 

There are few differences by age, sex, and marital 

status in knowledge or misinformation about the transmission of AIDS. 

Blood testfor the AIDS virus-A number of questions 

were asked about blood tests for the AIDS virus. Overall, 

70 percent of aduks have heard of the blood test. Persons 

30-49 years of age are most likely (79 percent) and persons 

50 years of age and over least likely (57 percent) to have 

heard of the test. Although there is widespread awareness 

that a blood test for the AIDS virus is available, there 

appears to be some misunderstanding about the purpose of 

the test. Forty-one percent of adults (58 percent of those 

who have heard of the test) erroneously believe that the 

blood test results tell whether a person has the disease 

AIDs. 

Seven percent of respondents report having had their 

blood tested for the AIDS virus, including 2 percent who 

voluntarily said that they were tested because of a blood 

donation or transfusion. (On the other hand, about 12 

percent report having given blood since January 1985, the 

approximate date when routine testing of donated blood 
advancedata 3 

began.) These provisional data indicate that adults under 

age 30 are about four times as likely to have had the AIDS 

blood test as persons 50 years of age and over. In addition, 

11 percent of all adults have thought about having the 

AIDS test, and 4 percent say that they plan to be tested in 

the next 12 months. Twelve percent of Americans age 18 

years and over know someone who has had the AIDS blood 

lest. 

Risk of getting AIDS–Most adults believe that they 

(and the people that they know) are at little or no risk of 

AIDS virus infection. Nine in 10 feel that there is no chance 

(60 percent) or a low chance (30 percent) of getting AIDS 

themselves. Six in 10 say that the chance of someone they 

know getting AIDS is low (34 percent) or nonexistent (26 

percent). Six percent of adults report personally knowing 

someone with the AIDS virus. 

AIDS prevention— Almost 9 out of 10 Americans 

realize that both celibacy and restricting sexual activity to a 

monogamous relationship with a person who does not have 

the AIDS virus are very effective ways to avoid infection 

with the AIDS virus. One-third (34 percent) think that 

using condoms is a very effective way to avoid the virus, and 

an additiomd 48 percent consider this method somewhat 

effective. Slightly more than one-half of the adults in the 

United States (56 percent) think that using a diaphragm is 

not an effective way to avoid infection with the AIDS virus. 

An almost equal proportion (54 percent) feel that using 

spermicides is ineffective in AIDS prevention. 

AIDS discussion and educd”on —Two-thirds of adults 

(67 percent) have discussed AIDS with friends or relatives. 

Persons age 50 and over are the least likely to have done so. 

Of adults with children between the ages of 10 and 17, 60 

percent have talked with their children about AIDS (12 

percent of all adults), and just over one-third of those with 

children in this age range report that their children have 

received instruction about AIDS at school. 

Symbols 

Quantity zero 

o Quantity more than zero but less than 0.5 
4 advancedata 

Table 1. Provisional estimates of the percent of persona 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and attitudes from the 

1987 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, August 1987 

[Da!a are based on household Interviews of the ctvlllan noninstitutlonalized population. The survey design, general qualifications, and Information on the reliability of 

the estimates are given in technical notes] 

Age Sex Race Marifal status 

16-29 30-49 50 years 

AIDS knowledge or attitude Total years years and over Male Female Whiie Black Married Unmarried 

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

1. 

2. 

3a. 

3b. 

3C. 

3d. 

3e. 

3f. 

4a. 

4b. 

Have you ever heard of AIDS? When wee the last time you saw, 

heard, or read something about AIDS? 

0-3daya ago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4-7daysago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

8-14days ago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

15-31 daysago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Morethan 31 daysago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Never heard of AIDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Compared to most people, how much would you say you know 

about AIDS? 

Alit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Some . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Uftle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Nothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

AIDSlsadiseaee causedbyavlrus. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Deflnifelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

AIDS can cripple the body’s natural protection against disease. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

AIDS is especially common in older people. 

Definifelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablvtrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probabl~false . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Deflnitelvfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tk;ow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

The AIDS virus can damage the bra[n. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

AIDS usually leads to heart disease. 

Deflnifelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

AIDS leads to death. 

Deflnitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definitelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Where do you get most of your information about AIDS?2 

Television. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Newspapers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Magazines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Relatiwesandfriends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Brochures/fliers/pamphlets...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Doctor/HMO/clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Of the sources you just told me, from which one do you get the 

mostlnformation? 

Television . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Newspapers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Magazines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Brochures/fliers/pamphlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Doctor/HMO/clinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Ofher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Percent distribution 

100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 

74 65 77 76 75 72 75 69 76 70 

14 19 14 11 13 15 14 16 14 14 

3 4 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 

4 6 4 3 3 5 4 6 4 4 

2 4 2 2 3 2 1 2 3 

0 0 0 : 0 1 0 0 1 

3 2 1 5 3 2 2 5 2 4 

20 22 24 14 20 20 20 18 19 21 

40 43 45 31 39 40 41 33 42 36 

30 32 26 33 28 31 30 32 28 32 

10 3 5 22 12 9 9 17 10 11 

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

44 52 52 30 46 40 44 39 43 46 

31 33 31 29 28 32 30 39 31 30 

4 4 2 5 4 4 4 2 4 3 

4 2 3 6 3 5 4 3 4 3 

18 9 12 31 16 19 18 17 18 17 

69 72 76 60 70 89 72 54 71 68 

19 16 17 21 19 19 17 27 18 19 

1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

10 8 5 17 9 1: 8 18 9 11 

1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 

1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 

24 26 23 23 25 23 24 20 24 23 

65 64 70 80 63 66 66 62 66 63 

9 7 5 16 10 9 8 14 8 12 

24 22 24 25 22 26 23 30 23 25 

33 33 32 33 34 31 33 34 34 31 

6 11 10 5 9 8 9 7 e 8 

5 6 6 4 7 4 6 2 6 5 

29 28 27 33 28 31 29 27 29 30 

7 7 6 8 8 6 12 7 7 

22 22 22 21 2; 23 21 27 22 23 

16 17 20 12 20 14 17 11 16 17 

16 12 14 12 14 

x : 34 4: : 44 41 38 H 40 

89 90 92 85 67 91 89 90 90 87 

6 9 6 10 10 7 8 7 8 9 

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

2 1 1 4 3 2 2 3 1 : 

81 60 81 63 60 82 81 64 82 80 

61 53 65 63 65 5a 63 49 64 57 

30 29 33 26 26 33 31 21 30 29 

10 12 9 9 11 10 10 10 

10 15 10 7 10 1: 9 1; 8 14 

7 7 8 5 7 7 5 15 6 6 

6 6 6 5 5 8 6 7 7 5 

14 16 16 9 13 14 14 14 13 16 

1 1 1 1 1 1 2 0 1 

54 57 52 55 53 56 53 62 55 53 

23 17 24 26 27 20 25 14 24 23 

8 6 11 6 7 9 9 5 9 7 

2 1 2 1 2 2 1 6 2 2 

2 2 2 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 

9 13 9 7 9 10 9 9 8 12 

1 1 0 2 1 1 1 3 1 1 

Seefodnolesatend oftable. 
---

advancedata 5 

Table 1. Provlaional estimates of the peroent of persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and attitudes from the 

1987 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, August 1987–Con. 

[Dala are based on household interviews of the cfvilian noninstffulionalized population. The survey design, general qualifications, and information on the reliability of 

the estimates are gfven in technical notes] 

Age Sex Race Marital status 

18-29 30-49 50 years 

AIDS Irfrowledae or attitude Total years years and over Male Female White Black Married Unmarried 

5a. If you wanted more specific information about AIDS, where Percent distributloni 

would you get twz 

Doctor/HMO/cllnic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 60 60 59 56 63 59 67 60 58 

Public heallhdepartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 14 Ie 13 ie 14 16 13 18 15 

Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 13 le 7 11 13 12 10 13 10 

AIDShot line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 10 9 e 9 9 9 8 8 10 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 38 31 29 30 35 32 35 31 34 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 8 7 18 12 10 11 9 11 11 

-,.	 .... ... ------- ...-...A . . . . . —--- ,m. -,.. ..--.-! 

wnrcn crrresuumr wuuv-r yuu mum 1IKW%utiuf 

Doctor/HMO/cllnlc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 4e 48 50 45 52 4e 52 49 48 

Public heallhdeparlment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 9 15 9 13 9 12 e 12 10 

Library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 7 e 4 6 7 6 6 6 7 

AIDShotllne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 7 8 

Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 19 15 12 16 15 15 17 15 16 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 8 7 19 13 10 12 9 12 12 

6a. A person can be Infected with the AIDS virus and not have the 

disease AIDS. 

Deflnttelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 51 59 39 50 50 51 42 51 48 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 2e 24 31 26 27 2e 24 28 26 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 5 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 4 

Deflntfelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 7 3 2 4 4 3 10 3 5 

Don’lknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 12 10 23 15 15 14 19 14 17 

6b. You can tell If people have the AIDS virus just by looking at 

them. 

Definitelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 4 5 4 4 4 5 4 5 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1; 23 15 16 19 17 18 15 Ie 18 

Definlfelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 64 74 56 66 65 66 64 67 63 

Ilon’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 8 6 21 11 12 11 14 11 13 

6c. Any pareon with the AIDS vkus can pass if on to someone else 

during sexual intercourse. 

Definffelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 79 7e 70 72 79 75 eo 76 74 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ie 16 Ie 20 21 16 19 13 18 19 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 

Deflntfelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 3 2 e 5 4 5 6 4 6 

r5d. A pregnant woman who has the AIDS virus can give AIDS to 

her baby. 

Definftelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 73 e3 67 71 69 75 69 69 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . : 22 21 25 24 21 23 15 23 22 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 3 0 1 

Definftelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Don’tlrnow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . e 6 6 11 9 7 8 7 8 8 

6(?. There is a vaccine available to the public that protects a person 

from gelling the AIDS virus. 

Deflnilelytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 3 2 2 3 2 5 2 3 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 4 4 5 4 5 4 8 4 5 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 15 12 12 12 12 11 12 12 

Definiielyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 65 7: 56 68 63 6e 53 67 62 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 14 10 24 13 19 15 23 15 ie 

Gf. There Is no cure for AIDS at present. 

Definftelytrue . . .. o . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 62 85 61 63 83 85 77 84 80 

Probablytrue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 9 8 9 9 e 9 9 9 9 

Probablyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 

Defintfelyfalse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 2 3 2 2 3 2 3 2 2 

Don’tknow, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 4 7 5 5 4 10 4 7 

7. How likely do you think if Is that a pereon will get the AIDS virus 

from7/.3. Receivlng a blood transfusion? 

Verylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 37 36 39 35 3e 35 50 38 36 

Somewhatiikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 32 31 33 28 35 32 34 32 31 

Somewhatunllkely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Ie 14 11 15 12 14 6 13 13 

Veryunlilrely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 11 16 11 16 10 15 1 13 13 

Deflnlfelynotposslble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 0 0 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 4 ; 6 ; 4 : e : : 

7b. Donating orgfvlng blood? 

Verjllkely. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 11 9 11 10 10 8 23 10 11 

Somewhatllkely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 17 15 15 15 15 14 22 16 15 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 15 12 16 15 14 14 11 14 13 

Veryunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 34 41 30 37 34 37 27 36 34 

Definlfeiynotposslble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Ie 20 17 ie 19 20 6 19 17 

Don’tknow, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 5 4 11 5 8 6 11 5 9 

See footnotesat end of table. 
Table 1. Provisional estimates of the percent of persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and attitudes from the 

1987 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, August 1987–Con. 

[Data are based on household Interviews of the civilian noninstttutionalized population. The survey design, general qualifications, and information on the reliability of 

the estimates are given in technical notes] 

Age Sex Race Martial status 

18-29 30-49 50 years 

AIDS knowledge or atiflude Total years years and over Male Female Whffe Black Married Unmarried 

7C. 

7d. 

7e. 

7f. 

7g. 

7h. 

7i. 

7j. 

7k. 

71. 

Living near a hospital or home for AIDS patients? 

Verylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Somewhat llkely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Somewhat unllkely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Veryunfikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definitely notposslble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Working near someone with AIDS? 

Verylikeiy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Somewhatllkely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Veryunllkely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definikefynotpossible. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Eating in a restaurant where the cook has AIDS? 

Verylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Somewhatunllkely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Veryunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definitelynotpossible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Kissing-wlh axchange of saliva-a person who has AIDS? 

Veryllkely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Somewhatunllkely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Veryunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Deflnitelynotpossible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Shaking hands with or touching someone who has AIDS? 

Veryllkely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Veryunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definttaiynotposslble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tkrmw . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Sharing plates, forks, or glasses wtth someone who has AIDS? 

Verylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Veryunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definitelynotpossible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Using public toilets? 

Verylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Veryunllkely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definitsiynotpossible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Sharing needles for drug use with someone who has AIDS? 

Verylikeiy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Somewhatunllkely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Veryunllkely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Deflnftelynotpoesible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Klsslng on the cheek a personwho has AIDS? 

Verylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Somewhatunllkeiy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Vefyunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Definitelynotpossible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Beingcoughedor sneezed on by someonewho has AIDS? 

Vetylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Somewhatllkelv . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Somewhatunli~ely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...11 

Verytmllkely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Daflnttelynotpossible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

. 

2 2 2 2 2 1 5 2 

5 ; 5 : 11 13 1: 10 1: 1: 1: 1: 1: 12 

41 43 42 39 44 39 42 41 42 41 

33 32 37 31 31 36 35 24 34 33 

s 4 5 13 8 7 7 11 7 8 

5 4 5 5 5 8 4 

16 16 1: 17 15 17 1: 18 1: 13 

17 18 16 17 16 18 18 14 17 17 

35 36 37 32 38 33 36 33 35 36 

18 18 21 16 16 19 19 13 18 19 

9 7 6 14 9 s 8 14 8 11 

11 9 10 13 11 11 10 19 11 10 

24 24 24 25 25 24 24 29 25 23 

18 22 18 14 19 17 18 15 16 17 

25 25 28 22 25 25 26 16 24 27 

11 12 12 9 10 11 11 7 11 11 

11 8 9 17 11 12 11 15 11 12 

36 31 36 40 33 36 35 42 37 33 

34 39 33 31 36 32 35 26 35 33 

10 12 12 7 11 9 10 10 10 11 

8 9 10 6 9 8 9 9 8 10 

2 2 3 2 2 2 2 0 2 2 

10 7 6 15 9 10 9 10 9 11 

1 2 1 2 2 

1; 8 11 1; 11 1: 10 1: 1? 8 

19 22 18 18 19 20 20 16 21 16 

39 36 43 35 41 37 39 41 39 39 

22 26 21 21 21 24 23 16 21 26 

7 5 5 12 8 6 6 11 6 9 

15 12 16 17 14 16 15 20 17 12 

32 34 31 32 32 32 32 30 32 32 

15 20 14 13 16 15 15 14 15 15 

19 17 23 16 20 16 m 16 16 20 

8 8 10 6 9 8 9 6 9 

10 8 7 15 9 11 9 14 9 1: 

9 9 9 11 10 6 17 10 

22 21 20 26 2: 22 22 25 22 2: 

18 21 18 16 18 19 19 18 19 16 

27 26 32 23 31 24 28 21 26 26 

13 14 15 10 12 14 13 11 12 14 

10 9 7 15 9 11 10 10 9 12 

91 92 94 88 91 92 92 92 92 90 

5 5 4 8 6 5 6 3 5 6 

0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 

0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

2 2 1 4 3 2 2 4 2 3 

3 3 4 4 4 3 2 11 3 4 

13 12 12 14 12 12 15 13 11 

21 22 22 19 E 20 22 18 22 20 

37 36 40 34 38 36 3a 27 38 

19 21 19 17 16 21 19 15 18 E 

8 6 4 12 8 7 6 12 6 9 

11 9 10 13 10 12 10 15 11 

30 30 28 33 32 28 30 32 32 u 

22 20 13 19 14 19 

: 22 24 19 24 z : 15 23 : 

9 10 10 7 6 9 9 11 7 12 

10 8 8 15 8 12 9 12 6 13 

Seefootnotesat etioftable. 
advancedata 7 

Table 1. Provisional estimates of the percent of persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and attitudes from the 

1987 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, August 1987–Con. 

[Data are based on household Interviews of the civillan non[nstitulionalized population. The survey design, general quafiications, and information on the reliabilii of 

Ihe estimates are given In technical notesi 

Age Sex Race Marital status 

16-29 30-49 50 years 

AIDS knowledge or attitude Total years yeats and over Male Female White Black Married Unmarried 

. Percent distribution’ 7m. Attending school wRh a child who has AIDS? 

Vefylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 4 4 3 3 3 8 3 3 

Somewhat likely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 11 12 13 12 12 12 11 13 10 

Somewhat unlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 18 17 16 18 16 ~7 18 18 14 

Veryunllkely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 39 40 34 39 36 40 27 38 37 

Deflnftelynotpossible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 24 21 17 18 22 20 21 18 24 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 7 5 16 9 10 6 14 9 11 

7na Mosquitoes or other Insects? 

Verylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 11 9 11 12 9 10 16 11 10 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 29 29 26 30 27 27 38 28 28 

Somawhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 13 13 9 12 12 12 7 13 10 

Veryunllkely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 18 22 15 20 18 19 16 19 18 

Deflnltelynotposslble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 11 10 11 7 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 18 16 : 1: 23 ; 18 N F3 

70.	 Pets or animals? 

Verylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 8 3 3 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 14 9 9 11 10 9 17 10 10 

Somewhatunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 14 12 12 12 12 12 

Veryunl[kely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 31 34 2: 32 ; 31 25 30 ;: 

Def[nttelynotpossible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 20 23 19 20 21 22 13 21 21 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 18 19 35 22 27 24 24 24 26 

7p. Having sex with a person who has AIDS? 

Verylikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 95 94 89 90 94 93 91 93 92 

Somewhatlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 5 7 7 4 6 3 5 5 

Somewhatunllkely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 

Veryunlikely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

DeflnltelynOtpOsZ.lble . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 1 4 2 2 1 3 1 2 

ii. Have you ever heard of a blood test for infection with the 

AIDS vkus? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 74 79 57 71 69 72 59 72 67 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 23 19 38 26 26 25 33 25 28 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2 2 7 3 4 3 8 3 5 

9.	 Does this test tell whether a person has the disease AIDS? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 44 44 34 38 43 42 33 42 38 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 21 26 12 25 16 21 15 20 20 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 10 8 11 9 10 9 11 10 8 

Neverheardoftest (no/don’tknowtoq. 8). . . . . . . . . . . 30 26 21 43 29 31 28 42 28 33 

10.	 If a person has a positive blood test for infection with the AIDS 

virus, do= this mean that they can give someone else the AIDS 

virus through sexual intercourse? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 63 67 47 60 58 60 49 61 55 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 5 5 2 5 3 4 3 4 

Don’lknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 7 7 8 7 8 7 6 ; 8 

Neverh8srdoftest(no/don’t knowtoq.8) . . . . . . . . . . . 30 26 21 43 29 31 28 42 28 33 

11, Have vou ever had vour bloodtestedfor Infectionwiththe AIDS 

virus?-

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 5 2 5 5 4 8 4 6 

Yes,ktblooddonatlon/transfusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . z 3 3 1 3 2 3 1 3 2 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 62 69 53 62 62 63 49 64 57 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 2 

Neverheardoftest (no/don’tknowtoq. 8). . . . . . . . . . . 30 26 21 43 29 31 26 42 28 33 

12a. Have you ever thought about having this blood test? 

Alreadyhadtest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 12 9 3 9 7 6 9 7 8 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 16 14 4 12 10 10 15 9 15 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 45 55 49 49 51 52 31 54 42 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 

Neverheardoftest(no/don’t knowtoq.a) . . . . . . . . . . . 31 2; 22 44 30 33 3; 45 3: 35 

12b. Do you plan to be tested in the next 12 months? 

Alreadyhadtest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 12 9 3 9 7 8 9 7 8 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 e 5 4 4 10 3 7 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 ; 6 ; 6 4 5 2 4 6 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 2 1 1 2 2 3 2 2 

Never heard of test or thought about having test (no/don’t 

knowtoq. 8orq. 12a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81 72 77 94 79 83 62 76 84 77 

See footnotes at end of teble. 
8 acivancedata 

Table 1. Provisional estimates of the percent of persons 18 years of age and over with selected AiDS knowledge and attitudes from the 

1987 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, August 1987—Con. 

[Data are based on household Intetvlews of the civilian noninstttutlonallzed population. The survey design, general qualifications, and information on the reliability of 

the estimates are given in technical notes] 

Age sex Race Marital sfalus 

18-28 30-49 50 y(?57s 

AIDS knowledge or atti?ude Total years years and over Male Female Whi?e Black MarrJad Unmarried 

13. Where would y~u go to have a blood test for the AIDS Percent distribution virus infection? 

NowhereAvouldn’t taketest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

AIDSclinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 2 2 1 1 3 3 

Ofherciinic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 28 28 1; 27 25 25 33 23 30 

Doctor/HMO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 49 52 60 53 50 52 57 57 46 

Red Crose/blcecf bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 2 4 4 3 3 3 

Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 11 11 9 1: 10 5 8 12 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 1; 4 8 5 10 8 1 9 6 

14.	 Where wouid you go to find out where to have this blood ~e.t@’,4 

AIDShotllne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 5 23 9 9 10 22 

AIDSclinlc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Othercllnic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 16 51 44 18 21 9 

Doctor/HMO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 19 11 100 34 22 30 16 36 

Friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Publichealthdeparfment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 9 9 7 10 

Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Nowhere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 50 67 28 61 41 100 60 32 

15. Have you donated blood since 1985? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 15 15 5 ~4 10 12 12 11 13 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 65 85 94 86 90 88 88 89 86 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 

16. Have you ever personally known anyone who had the blood 

IestfortheAIDSvirus infection? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 20 13 5 11 14 13 10 10 16 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 79 86 94 88 66 87 68 89 82 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 i 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 

17. What are the chances of someone you know getting the AIDS 

virus? 

High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 12 13 6 ,11 10 10 16 10 11 

Medium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 25 20 11 19 18 19 16 16 18 

Low. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 35 36 30 37 31 35 23 35 32 

None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 20 24 35 22 30 26 25 27 25 

Refused . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 1 0 0 0 

Don’tkrww . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 7 7 19 11 11 10 19 10 1: 

18.	 What are your chances of getting the AIDS virus? 

High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 2 2 2 

Medium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 : 5 3 : 4 : 3 : 5 

Low. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 38 33 20 34 27 30 31 28 34 

None . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 63 57 69 56 63 61 52 64 53 

Refused . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 3 e 5 5 4 11 4 7 

19.	 Here are methods some people use to prevent getting the AIDS 

virusthroughsexuai actMfy.Howeffective is— 

19a. Using a diaphragm? 

Veryeffective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 1 3 2 2 2 5 1 4 

Somewhateffective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 16 9 9 10 11 10 13 10 12 

NotateNeffective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5a 56 66 44 56 55 68 42 58 51 

Don’tknowhoweffective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 17 16 30 19 24 21 23 21 22 

Don’tknowmethod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 8 6 14 13 8 9 17 9 11 

19b. Using a condom? 

Veryeffective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 39 37 28 34 35 31 32 39 

Somewhateffective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 50 50 44 50 z 49 41 51 43 

NotatalleffsctNe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 5 7 6 4 7 5 11 6 6 

Don’tknowhoweffectti e..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 3 5 15 7 8 10 8 9 

Don’tknowmethod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 2 2 8 4 : 3 7 4 4 

19c. Uslngasparmickial Jelly,foam, orcream? 

Veryeffective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 3 2 2 

Somewhateffectiie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 17 1: 1: 13 1: 1: 1; 12 1! 

Notatalleffeclive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 55 64 42 53 55 56 43 56 50 

Don’tknowhoweffecthfe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 16 15 30 20 21 20 21 21 21 

Don’tknowmethod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 9 8 13 12 8 9 14 9 12 

19d. Being celibate, that Is, not having sex at all? 

Veryeffectiie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 68 91 87 87 eo w 62 90 87 

Somewhateffective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 8 4 4 6 4 5 6 5 5 

NotatetieffectNe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 3 1 2 

Don’tknowhoweffective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2 2 4 3 2 2 5 2 4 

Don’tknowmethcd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 1 1 4 3 2 2 4 2 2 

.%efodnotesat endoftable. 
advancedata 9 

Table 1, Provisional estimates of the percent of persons 18 years of age and over with selected AIDS knowledge and attitudes from the 

1987 National Health Interview Survey, by selected characteristics: United States, August 1987–Con. 

[Dala are based on householdinterviews of the ctvlllan nonlnslifutionalized population. The survey design, general qualiicafions, and information on the reliability of 

Ihe esllmates are given [n technical notes] 

Age sax Race Marital status 

18-29 30-49 50 years 

AIDS knowledge or altitude Total yeara yeare and over Male Female White Black Marrk?d Unmarried 

19e. Two people who do not have the AIDS virus having a 

20. 

21. 

24. 

25. 

26. 

27, 

28. 

29. 

completely monogamous relationship, that Is, having sex 

only with each othet? 

Veryeffeclive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Somewhat effective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Notatall effective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’lknow howeffective . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknowmethod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Have you ever discussed AIDS with a friend or relafiie? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

When was the last time you discussed AIDS with a friand or 

relaltve? 

0-3daysago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

4.7daysago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

e-14daysago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

15-31 daysago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Morethan31 daysago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Never discussed (no/don’t knowtoq.20). . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Have you ever discussed AIDS with [any of your children age 

10-17]? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Nochlldren 10-17yearsofage6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Have your children had any Instruction at school about AIDS? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Nochildren 10-17yearsofage5. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Have you ever personally known anyone with the AIDS virus? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Have you ever personally known anyone with AIDS? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

The U.S. Public Health Service has said that AIDS is one of the 

maJor health problems in the country but exactly how many 

people tf affects Is not known. The Surgeon Generai has 

propased that a study be conducted and blood samples be 

taken to help find out how widespread the problem is. If you 

were selected In this national sample of people to have their 

blood tested with assurances of privacy of test results, would 

you have the test? 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Other. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Would you want to know the results of the blood test?s 

Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Don’tknow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Percent distribufioni 

e4 e5 87 79 64 64 85 77 86 81 

9 10 9 9 9 10 e 11 8 11 

2 1 1 2 1 2 1 2 

: 2 3 6 3 : 3 6 3 4 

2 1 1 5 3 2 2 3 2 2 

67 72 76 52 62 70 67 66 67 66 

33 27 24 47 37 29 33 33 33 34 

0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 

20 22 16 20 20 20 24 20 21 

17 17 ; 15 16 18 18 15 18 15 

7 9 8 5 7 6 7 6 7 7 

11 11 13 7 9 12 11 10 11 11 

7 9 7 4 6 7 7 5 6 7 

35 30 25 49 39 31 34 36 34 36 

3 2 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 

12 29 3 10 15 12 14 16 7 

8 : 16 3 11 6 8 9 11 4 

79 95 55 94 79 80 79 77 74 89 

7 0 17 3 7 8 7 6 9 4 

7 2 15 2 7 7 7 9 9 3 

2 14 e 5 7 e 8 4 

7: 95 55 9: 79 60 79 77 74 69 

e 7 9 3 5 7 6 10 5 9 

92 92 90 96 94 91 93 86 94 90 

1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 

6 7 9 4 5 6 6 11 5 9 

92 93 80 95 94 91 93 87 94 89 

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2 

69 73 71 63 70 68 69 69 70 67 

20 17 19 24 18 22 19 20 19 22 

4 4 4 4 5 3 4 3 4 4 

7 6 6 9 7 8 7 8 7 7 

97 96 97 99 97 97 9s e6 97 97 

1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 

1 2 1 1 1 1 1 3 1 1 

1~c.ude~ ~mn~ for ~bm ~ re~Wn~e ~~ recorded ~ WIW refUSeCIto respond. For questions 2 through 27, total ~so excludes Persons who ~ver heard ‘f ~IJS. 

2Muk[ple res~nseg may sum to rrmre than 100 Percent. 

a~a~d on pers~m @,llSWedllg yes to question 12ac 

4Bawd on ~mom answer[~ don’t know to question 13. 

5BaWd on que~tim 22, ~ ~w have any c~ldren aged 10-17? Question 23 Ws, ~w m~Y do You have? 

e~a=d ~“ pemc,m SIIWW13dtIg yes to questim 28. 

NOTE Total, age, sex, and marital s!atus include pereons C4 other and unknown race rmt shown separately under race. 
advancedata 10 

Technical notes 

The National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) is a 

continuous, cross-sectional household interview survey. 

Each week, a probability sample of the civilian noninstituTable L Sample size for the National Health Interview Survey of 

AIDS Knowledge and Attitudes and estimated adult population 

18 years of age and over, by selected characteristics: 

United States, August 1987 

Estimated 

Sample population 

Characteristic size in thousands 

All adults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,303 174,528 

Age 

18-29 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 556 47,583 

30-49 yeare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 862 66,250 

50years andover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 885 60,695 

Sex 

Male . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 980 82,703 

Female . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,343 91,825 

Race 

Black . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 19,107 

Whit e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,951 150,008 

Martial status 

Currently married . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,241 110,746 

Unmarried . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,052 63,310 

tionalized population is interviewed by personnel of the 

U.S. Bureau of the Censusto obtain information on the 

health and other characteristics of each member of the 

household. Supplemental information is collected for all or 

a sample of household members. The AIDS knowledge and 

attitudes questions were asked of a single randomly chosen 

adult 18 years of age or over in each household. The 

estimates in this report are based on completed interviews 

with 2,303 persons, or about 81 percent of eligible respondents. 

Table I contains the estimated population size of each 

of the demographic subgroups included in table 1 to allow 

readers to derive provisional estimates of the number of 

people in the United States with a given characteristic, for 

example, the number of men who have heard of AIDS. 

Table II shows approximate standard errors of estimates 

presented in table 1. Both the estimates in table 1 and the 

standard errors in table II are provisional. They may differ 

slightly from estimates made using the final data file because they were calculated using a simplified weighting 

procedure that does not adjust for all the factors used in 

weighting the final data file. The final data file covering the 

entire 5-month period of data collection, August through 

December 1987, will be available in 1988, 

Table Il. Standard errors, expressed in percentage points, of estimated percents from the National Health Interview Survey of AIDS 

Knowledge and Attitudes, by selected characteristics: United States, August 1987 

Age Sex Race Marital s!atus 

18-29 30-49 50 years 

Estimated ptvoent Total years years and over Male Female White Black Married Unmarrkrd 

5or95 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.6 1.1 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.9 1.7 0.6 0.6 0.8 

100r90 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.8 1.5 1.3 1.2 1.2 1.0 2.3 0.8 1.0 1.1 

150r85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0.9 1.8 1.4 1.4 1.2 2.7 1.0 1.3 1.3 

200r80 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.0 2,0 ;:; 1.6 1.6 1.3 3.0 1.1 1.4 1.5 

250r75 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.1 2.2 1.8 1.6 1.7 1.4 3.3 1.2 1.5 1.6 

300r70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2 2.3 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.5 3.5 1.3 1.6 1.7 

350r65 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2 2.4 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.6 3.6 1.3 1.7 1.6 

400r60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.3 2.5 2.1 2.0 1.9 1.6 3.7 1.4 1.7 7.8 

450r65 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.3 2.5 2.1 2.0 2.0 1.7 3.8 1.4 1.8 1.9 

50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.3 2.6 2.1 2.1 2.0 1.7 3.8 1.4 1.8 1.9 
12 advancedata 

Recent Issues of Advance Data From Wtal and Health Statistics 

No. 145.1986 Summary: National Hospital Discharge Survey (Issued September 30, 1987) 

No. 144. Expected Source of Payment for Hospital Discharges, United States 1985 (In preparation) -

No. 143. The 1986 Inventory of Long-Term Care Places: An 

Overview of Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (Issued 

September 30, 1987) 

Suggested citation 

NationalCenter for Health Statistics, D. A. Dawson, 

M, Cynamon, and J. E. Fitti. 1987. AIDS knowledge 

and attitudes, Provisional data from the National 

Health Interview Survey United States, August 1987. 

Advance Data From Vital and Health Statistics, No. 

148, DHHS Pub. No. (PHS) 88-1250. Public Health 

Service. Hyattsville, Md. 

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Data From the 1985 National Nursing—Home Survey (Issued September 30, 1987) 

No. 141.Health Practices and Perceptions of U.S. Adults 

with Noninsulin-Dependent Diabetes: Data From the 1985 

National Health Interview Survey of Health Promotion and 

Disease Prevention (Issued September 30, 1987) 

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