AIDS-related knowledge, behavior and attitudes of workers in Israel

Control of the AIDS pandemic depends largely on the success of educational programs designed to persuade the population at risk to use currently recommended methods of prevention. In Israel there are no regular national surveys on the health-related behavior of the population. The consequent lack of reliable data makes it difficult both to develop and to evaluate AIDS-related educational programs. A survey was therefore conducted among 536 employees of 3 workplaces in Dec. 1992, using anonymous questionnaires. The level of general knowledge of the disease was good, although in selected areas there were deficiencies: more than 20% of the men and 40% of the women believed that AIDS can be contracted through the use of public toilets. More than 50% of the subjects indicated that they would like more information on the disease, and believe that insufficient education is given youth regarding the use of the condom. Women tended to be more worried than men about the possibility of contracting AIDS, and were more likely to adopt preventive behavior and educate their children in this regard. These findings indicate the need to design separate educational programs for men and women. Further on-going surveys in representative samples of the general population are urgently needed to monitor trends in AIDS-related knowledge, attitudes and behavior.