Sheryl L. Henderson|Lisa Bernstein|Diane Marie St. George|Joyce Doyle|Anuradha Paranjape|Giselle Corbie?Smith
Older Women and HIV: How Much Do They Know and Where Are They Getting Their Information?
Emory University|Walden University|Emory University|Walden University|Emory University|Walden University|Emory University|Walden University|Emory University|Walden University|Emory University|Walden University
objectives assess older urban womens knowledge sexual transmission human immunodeficiency virus hivacquired immune deficiency syndrome aids evaluate relationship hivaids knowledge level sources information design crosssectional survey conducted june 2001 july 2002 trained research assistants administered questionnaire facetoface interview setting general medicine clinic large public hospital high hivaids incidence area participants five hundred fourteen women aged 50 older measurements nine questions assessing knowledge risk hiv sexual transmission potential scores ranging 0 9 correct answers participants identified sources hiv information results mean knowledge score 37 possible 9 correct responses range 0 3 8 1 younger age employment higher educational level associated higher knowledge scores whereas marital status unrelated respondent correctly answered nine questions commonly identified sources hivaids information television 85 friends 54 newspapers 51 38 respondents identified health professionals source information hivaids health professionals newspapers family members independently associated higher knowledge scores p lt05 conclusion older women general medicine clinic limited knowledge sexual transmission hiv hivaids education specifically targeted subpopulation warranted health professionals may important role disseminating messages