Population’s Awareness

In Russia, the widespread risky sexual behavior is accompanied by a lack of proper awareness of AIDS risk factors. Many people of Russia believe that it is only certain social groups (prostitutes, drug abusers and homosexuals) that are at risk for AIDS. As can be seen from surveys, there is a difference between assessing the STDs-infection risk «in general» (to the population of the country or a city) and «to oneself personally», that is, many respondents, while admitting that the risk «in general» is great, regard the risk «to oneself personally» as non-existent.

The UNAIDS has suggested several indicators for assessing the factors that may affect the spread of the AIDS epidemic. The first indicator is the knowledge of AIDS prevention techniques, it is defined as a proportion of those who give a right answer to two questions about the ways of preventing infection: 1) having one uninfected sex partner who has no other partners; and 2) using a condom in a proper way in every sex contact.

The second global indicator shows that a person has no false notions of AIDS. It is determined as a proportion of those who give correct answers to the following questions: people who look healthy may have the AIDS virus; one cannot get infected by using clean and sterile syringes; and one cannot get infected by sharing meals with a HIV-infected person.

The third indicator («comprehensive and correct knowledge about AIDS») shows a proportion of those who can determine correctly the three ways of preventing transmission and also reject two widespread myths about infection transmission. 

The data related to all the three indicators were collected, during the survey of women, 15-44 years old, in three cities of Russia (under the Women and Infant Health project) (Table 12).

Table 12. Knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Per cent of giving correct answers

Source: David P.H. et al. Household Survey 2000. Women and Infant Health Project. Report of Main Findings. USAID/Russia, John Snow Inc. December 2000, p. 75.
 

The data given in the table show that information and explanatory campaigns should be urgently conducted in Russia.