HIV/AIDS knowledge and HIV/AIDS risk perception: an indirect relationship

It is often assumed that a relationship exists between knowledge about Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HN) and AIDS, and perceptions of risk concerning HIV infection. However, this assumption has not stood up to empirical scrutiny. Researchers have, therefore, started to search for factors that might indirectly link these constructs. This paper reports findings demonstrating that the relationship between levels of perceived HN risk and levels of HIV/AIDS knowledge are indirectly linked by the extent to which others are perceived to be a risk. A total of 152 prison staff participated and were assessed with regard to their levels of HIV/AIDS knowledge, perceived personal risk of occupational HIV infection and the extent to which they perceived other occupational groups to be at risk of occupational HIV infection. It is argued that this indirect linkage represents a form of reappraisal coping. The ideas of optimistic bias are also extended to the occupational setting in terms of relative risk judgements. Results indicated that prison staff made realistic relative risk judgements. However, such judgements were unrelated to levels of knowledge. Implications for educational and training interventions are suggested.