Public reactions to AIDS in Sweden - Less anxiety, less risk taking

This study assessed changes in the knowledge, attitudes and behaviour relating to AIDS in the general population of Sweden during 1989-1994. Mail surveys were sent to 4,000 randomly selected individuals aged 16-44 years, in 1989 and 1994. The response rates were 70 and 64% respectively. The fear of social contact with people infected by HIV abated during the study period. The AIDS issue became a less prominent topic of discussion and the expectations regarding the prospects of finding effective means to combat the AIDS epidemic became more pessimistic. The use of condoms became significantly more prevalent among teenagers and among 20-24 year olds with no regular partner and there was a reduction in the number of sexual partners and casual sexual contacts in these groups. Multiple logistic regression indicated that, in 1994, there were high odds of males having prejudiced altitudes towards HIV-infected individuals and being indifferent and optimistic regarding the AIDS issue. Similarly, there were high odds of singles with and without a regular partner and of big-city dwellers having risky sexual behaviour in relation to HIV and sexually transmitted diseases.