Perceptions of vulnerability and fears of AIDS: a survey of elementary school children

Children (N = 361; grades K-6; 57% black, 24% Hispanic, 19% white; 52% female) attending four public schools in New Haven, Connecticut were interviewed using a standardized, semi-structured interview (ASK, AIDS Survey for Kids) that included questions about children's fears and perceptions of vulnerability to AIDS. A large majority of children (86.4%) believed that anyone could get AIDS, and 79.8% of all children responded they thought themselves at risk of getting the disease. Significantly fewer younger (grades K-3) children (74.2%) thought they themselves could get AIDS when compared to older (grades 4-6) children (86.5%). Fear of having AIDS was more prevalent in younger children (61.1%) than in older children (46.0%), yet few children (8.1% of the younger group and no children in the older group) actually thought they had AIDS on follow-up questioning. Though older children more often acknowledged that they could get AIDS, 21.2% of younger children but only 2.5% of older children thought they will get AIDS in the future. Older children may be more apt to exercise denial in their perceptions of personal risk of getting AIDS.

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