Abstract

CABALLERO-HOYOS, Ramiro  and  VILLASENOR-SIERRA, Alberto. Knowledge of HIV/AIDS among urban adolescents: cultural consensus of doubts and uncertainties. Salud pública Méx [online]. 2003, vol.45, suppl.1, pp. s109-s114. ISSN 0036-3634.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0036-36342003000700014.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the knowledge of HIV/AIDS among adolescents from different socioeconomic strata (SS), using cultural consensus analysis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive and analytic study was conducted from July 1995 to March 1996, among 758 adolescents from Guadalajara, México. Data were collected using a questionnaire, and analyzed by means of: a) consensus by SS and gender using factorial analysis; and b) identification of the cultural pattern of correct answers, and concordance of individual/group answers using Pearson's r correlation coefficients. RESULTS: There was a high degree of consensus across SS. The individual/group knowledge concordance was greater in higher SS. The pattern of correct responses showed: a) similar knowledge on casual transmission, AIDS characteristics, and higher risk in sex workers; and b) discrepancies regarding doubts and uncertainties about condom protection, distinction between HIV and AIDS, and HIV transmission in health clinics. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge was homogeneous and mainly medically oriented across all SS. Nevertheless, there were elements of doubt and uncertainty that require differentiated informative interventions.

Keywords : HIV/AIDS; knowledges; cultural consensus; adolescense; social class; Mexico.