The Pulse

By RICHARD DAY

A statewide survey was commissioned by Hill and Knowlton, the public relations firm under contract with the Illinois Department of Public Health, to serve as a benchmark attitude study prior to the launch of a statewide AIDS education campaign for the general public. The survey was conducted by telephone between January 16 and January 26, 1987, by Richard Day Research Inc. of Evanston. This report is based on a random sample survey of 800 Illinois residents between the ages of 16 and 64. The data match the regional, racial and education distribution across the state, based on adjusted 1980 census information.

This is a summary of the key findings of the survey of Illinois adults on their awareness and attitudes about AIDS.

Respondents' perceptions of how much they know about AIDS tracks well with what they actually do know about the disease. Slightly over one-third of the respondents said they "did not know much" about AIDS.

Those who are the least knowledgeable are also the most fearful of AIDS: blacks, Hispanics, Chicago residents, those with low levels of education and income. The youngest (under 18) and the oldest (over 45) also fit this profile.

Those who are the most knowledgeable are also concerned about the disease. They are most likely to have high levels of education and income and fall within the ages of 27-44. They also are more likely than the average to be single and under age 42. Eighteen percent of all those polled were afraid they might get AIDS. Except for Hispanics, among whom fear of the disease was extremely high (59 percent said they were afraid they might get the disease), no more than a third of any group said they were afraid of contracting AIDS. Only 23 percent of single respondents under the age of 28 said they were afraid of getting AIDS.

Nearly all respondents knew they could get the AIDS virus by using a hypodermic needle that someone with AIDS had just used (96 percent). Nearly all knew that one cannot get the virus by such casual contacts as working in the same office as a person with AIDS (93 percent) or by touching someone with AIDS (90 percent). The most common misperceptions regarding the transmission of AIDS include the belief that it is possible to catch AIDS by kissing, from a toilet seat or by giving blood.

Slightly over three-quarters of the it respondents said they had done nothing in particular to avoid getting AIDS. The most frequent response given by those who have done something to avoid AIDS was reducing the number of sexual partners. This answer was volunteered more often than average by men and by persons between the ages of 25 and 34.

Because several questions in this survey were similar to questions asked in a nationwide survey conducted by CBS-TV and the New York Times in September 1985, it is possible to compare attitude changes that have occurred in the 16-month interval and to compare Illinois residents to the country as a whole. It should be noted, however, that the CBS/NYT poll included those 65 years old and older, the group most likely to say they did not know much about AIDS.

Three-fourths of Illinois residents mentioned AIDS as one of the three most serious diseases facing the country, compared to only half of the respondents in the CBS/NYT poll.

Illinois residents are more likely to say they had some knowledge of AIDS (53 percent) than the nationwide sample in the of 1985 (38 percent).

Illinois residents are less worried about contracting the disease than the nation as a whole was in September 1985. This may be due to a higher level of perceived knowledge about the disease among Illinoisans.

Illinois residents in 1987 were slightly more likely to say they personally knew someone with AIDS (7 percent) than was the nationwide sample (2 percent). Illinois residents were more likely to be afraid that someone they know might get AIDS (32 percent) versus the national survey sample (21 percent).

On the issue of allowing children with AIDS to attend school, 79 percent of Illinois residents said "yes," compared to 40 percent in the CBS/NYT poll.

The survey probed awareness and understanding of AIDS in five general areas:

• general awareness of AIDS.

• knowledge of the ways in which AIDS is contracted.

• concerns about AIDS spreading to the general public.

• policy questions regarding the role of government.

• education and information resources available on AIDS.

The majority of married respondents (69 percent) and single respondents (54 percent) said they have not used a condom to reduce the chance of contracting AIDS, although 29 percent of singles say they have used a condom for this reason. The majority of respondents feel all three levels of government (federal, state and local) are very responsible for education, research and treatment of AIDS, with the federal government bearing most of the responsibility. The people of Illinois are generally sympathetic to the plight of AIDS and its victims:

• 79 percent think children with AIDS should be allowed to go to school.

• 73 percent think more should be spent on AIDS awareness and education.

• 72 percent think more should be spent on AIDS research.

• 65 percent oppose quarantining those with AIDS.

• 58 percent think more should be spent on treatment of AIDS victims.

Respondents were optimistic about the prospects for a cure: Almost 90 percent felt there would be one within the next 10 years, and 67 percent thought there would be a cure within the next five years.

The great majority of respondents (85 percent) agreed that sex education programs are an important way to combat AIDS. Forty-five percent of all respondents felt that programs should begin in elementary schools, and 34 percent believed these programs should begin at the junior high school level.

More than 80 percent of every group polled agree that both their personal physicians and the Illinois Department of Public Health are believable sources regarding AIDS. (The Illinois Department of Public Health has awarded a contract to the Illinois State Medical Society to educate physicians throughout the state about AIDS and the counseling of their patients.) Forty-seven percent of respondents felt the news media was believable regarding AIDS coverage; an equal number thought the news media could not be considered a believable source. The latter group was more likely to be young respondents, suburban and rural downstate residents, men, and those employed in medicine. The majority (58 percent) supported the idea of required blood testing for exposure to the virus that causes AIDS; only 17 percent thought everyone should be tested; 10 percent felt homosexuals should be required to be tested; 2 percent favored testing for hospital and medical workers; and only 1 percent favored required testing for those about to be married.

The state started a statewide public education campaign on AIDS during April. As of April 3, 41 of Illinois' 102 counties had reported cases of AIDS.

Richard Day heads his own survey research firm, Richard Day Research of Evanston. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign