What young people know about people living with hiv/aids? The case of postsecondary students from a nordic region of Quebec

Abstract

The study aims to know the attitudes and level of knowledge of hiv/aids among this sample, in order to suggest appropriate measures of awareness. Exploratory quantitative research, in which the Brief hiv Knowledge Questionnaire (hiv-kq-18) was used (Carey et Schroder, 2002). The results indicate that three variables are principal determinants of hiv/aids knowledge among students participating in the study: age, ethnic background, and socio-professional activity. Young people’s attitudes towards hiv/aids show that they are opening to interacting with people living with hiv/aids (plhiv/aids). However, this opening is relative because the students indicate that they do not agree to be cared for in the service sector for plhiv/aids. More studies are still needed on contextual factors to understand and address the meaning of hiv/aids in young people, one of the groups most vulnerable to hiv infection in Canada and other countries.