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Show Utahns tell attitudes about AIDS virus More than 96 per cent of adult Otahns surveyed recently believe that they are at little or no risk of learning infected with the AIDS rims, according to a report from the Utah Bureau of Epidemiology. During the past two years, the Utah Bureau of Epidemiology has I tommissioned a survey to deter-line deter-line the attitudes and behaviors if adult Utahns regarding Acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome 3 :aids). Funding for the survey was provided by a grant from the Cen-;lers Cen-;lers for Disease Control; the con-' con-' tractor was the University of Utah Survey Research Center. The survey was conducted by telephone interviews with 849 , ; adults, 18 years of age and older, 1 1 randomly selected from through-I through-I wt the state. Only 24 per cent of the sample knew that the State Office of Edu-tation Edu-tation had developed an AIDS curriculum cur-riculum for use in Utah schools. Of fee who were aware that the nrriculum was available, only 37 percent had reviewed any materials materi-als to be used for education of stu-ients. stu-ients. Of adults who had full or sh ared "sponsibility for any children be-ton be-ton the ages of six and 18, only 2 per cent reported that any of ir children had received in struc-0 struc-0 ;i(n in school about AIDS. There continues to be overwhelm-;J6support overwhelm-;J6support for AIDS education for I Hren in public schools with 94.6 !r cent being in favor. More than 81 per cent of the reported that they had never , ? .tested for infection with the JWS virus. This is consistent with ' survey result given at the be- tang of this article. en asked, "Where in your munitycanpeoplegotohavea 1 li0a test for the AIDS virus infec tion?" 42 per cent mentioned a hospital, emergency room, or clinic. Only 18 per cent responded by choosing a local health department. Utahns are split about mandatory manda-tory testing for the AIDS virus. Respondents were read the statement, state-ment, "All testing for the AIDS virus should be voluntary." Of those surveyed, 48 per cent agreed and 49 per cent disagreed. AZT is a drug which can extend life for some people with AIDS and costs about $6,500 per year per person. Over 72 per cent agreed that AZT should be made available regardless of the individual's ability abil-ity to pay. Last year, approximately 60 per cent supported provision of AZT. Less than 38 per cent of the respondents felt that free needles and syringes should be made available avail-able to intravenous (IV) drug addicts. ad-dicts. A slightly larger proportion, 42.6 per cent, would support distribution distri-bution of free kits for cleaning needles and syringes to TV drug users. Distribution of free condoms to people at risk for contracting the AIDS virus was supported by the majority, 62 per cent. Less than four per cent of all respondents believed that it was very likely or somewhat likely that a person could get AIDS by working work-ing near someone with AIDS. Surprisingly, 17 per cent thought ! that it was very likely or somewhat ; likely that a person could get AIDS or the AIDS virus infection from mosquitoes or other insects. 1 A majority, 68 per cent, felt that people who knew their AIDS test results would be more likely to adopt safer sex practices com pared to those who did not. ' Over 41 per cent of those inter- ' viewed agreed that the use of latex See AIDS page 3 1 tf2fJeve Httte risk of AIDS 111 DfP- Kova ot i i PnntviU..i.. j C" ,s very effective in pre-j)3the pre-j)3the spread of the AIDS ''"''"An additional 54 per cent felt condom use was some- ' ffective. 'a ,t adults, 81 per cent, re- I that they had not changed r ,ual practices due to con-eirMut con-eirMut AIDS. Of those who lef ahanged their behavior, 43 kve . use condoms more fre- f 85 Per cen' ave fewer ,1 partners, and 23 per cent have stopped having sex 'n to .tted ,c,o wif , "-mote "-mote who ha, AIDS "hacla"s- Amo 6S to infecl-ion with the AIDS v,rus and 72 per cent had discussed drug using risk factors. As a result of the survey, the Bureau of Epidemiology was pleased that respondents were fairly well informed about AIDS in general and continued to support educational educa-tional programs. There were relatively rela-tively few differences on the general gen-eral knowledge section attributable to age sex, religious, or marital status differences. The Bureau was disappointed that 17 per cent of adults still believe be-lieve that mosquitoes or insects might be able to transmit the AIDS virus, and also they had anticipated antici-pated that most people would know that local health departments throughout the state provide human hu-man immunodeficiency virus (HIV) counseling and testing. The sample error on this survey was plus or minus 3.4 per cent at the 95 per cent confidence level for the total survey population. i - - "" " J , ' ... "I- . ' r ' " .V-V - r 1 i " . - - f V . x L . . . .... i - . , . y ; " ' ' ; 1 ' ' f v " 'I ' - , w . .. -.-.4 Mushrooms grow from block of wood chips, waiting to be harvested and sent to markets all over United States. |