A MARKET research survey in Croydon produced 510 completed questionnaires. Fifty three per cent of respondents were female. Just over a third of respondents wanted more information on Aids, although 85 per cent claimed to know enough to protect themselves against the disease. Only six per cent of the sample answered the knowledge question incorrectly, and 60 per cent spontaneously identified homosexuals as a risk group. The sample was div ided in half by the statement "It's a person's own fault if they get Aids", with more men and more old people agreeing with the statement. There was fairly general agreement that society is prejudiced against people with Aids (82%), with young people and women tending to perceive more prejudice. Of the 15 per cent who do not know enough to protect them selves against Aids, half say they do not want more information, suggesting a small group that is resistant to health education. The main conclusions were that although respondents were very knowl edgable on Aids, there is still a great deal of preju dice. The main issue facing health education is changing attitudes, not increasing knowledge.
