Finlay AIDS Survey for Knowledge and Attitudes (FASKA)

1.Women with AIDS can infect men.
Type of question: Knowledge

üCommentary:  The answer is yes. A woman infected with the HIV virus can indeed infect a man through sexual intercourse or blood exposure.

2. Men with AIDS can infect women.  
Type of question: Knowledge

üCommentary: The answer is yes. A man infected with the HIV virus can indeed infect a woman through sexual intercourse or blood exposure.

3.You can get AIDS by sharing clothing.  
Type of question: Knowledge

üCommentary:  The answer is no. Even is the clothing may have particles of body fluids contaminated with the HIV virus, the virus  will likely perish and will not be transmitted to a new host to cause disease.

4.You can get AIDS by kissing.  
Type of question: Knowledge

üCommentary:  The answer is no. However, if there is inflammation or trauma in the mouth as gingivitis ( inflammation of the gums) or lacerations in the oral mucosa then this is a qualified yes. Saliva has an apparent protective effect in the transmission of HIV. , The host person would have to have also an exposed blood vessel or area of inflammation with a capillary bed is exposed where the HIV may enter the circulatory system.

5.You can get AIDS from vaginal intercourse.  
Type of question: Knowledge

üCommentary:  The answer is yes. Vaginal intercourse with an infected partner is a very high-risk practice.

6. You can get AIDS from anal sex.  
Type of question: Knowledge

üCommentary:  The answer is yes. Anal intercourse with an infected partner is a very high-risk practice.

7. You can get AIDS from oral sex.
Type of question: Knowledge.

üCommentary:  The answer is no. However, if there is inflammation or trauma in the mouth as gingivitis ( inflammation of the gums) or lacerations in the oral mucosa then this is a qualified yes. Saliva has an apparent protective effect in the transmission of HIV. , The host person would have to have also an exposed blood vessel or area of inflammation with a capillary bed is exposed where the HIV may enter the circulatory system.

8. A person can be infected with the AIDS virus and not have any symptoms. 
Type of question: Knowledge

üCommentary:  The answer is yes. HIV infection is manifested through a progressive disease, which very often has no symptoms in the beginning and wasting, lethal symptoms at the end.

9. Sneezing and coughing can spread the disease.
Type of question: Knowledge

üCommentary:  The answer is no. Sneezing and coughing are not recognized routes of transmission for the HIV virus. However, the question may be qualified since respiratory viruses such as influenza and bacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis do spread through respiratory secretions if the persons from whom these secretions emanate is  infected with these agents.

10. You can get AIDS from swimming pools.  
Type of question: Knowledge

üCommentary:  The answer is no. There is no evidence for this route of transmission.

11. Sharing a drinking glass can spread AIDS.
Type of questions: Knowledge.

üThe answer is no. However, this is a qualified no. The person with HIV/AIDS may have hepatitis B and this illness can indeed be transmitted through sharing a drinking glass or eating utensils.

 12. You can get AIDS from a blood transfusion.  
Type of question: Knowledge

üCommentary:  The answer is yes. Although the risk is very low when persons at low risk of HIV donate the blood and all blood donations are checked for evidence of antibodies against HIV, the risk is a finite one.

13. Almost all homosexual men have AIDS. 
Type of question: Attitude

üCommentary:  Although HIV infection and AIDS were demonstrated in pockets of homosexual men and intravenous drug users in 1981, the male homosexual community in several metropolitan areas has been shown to be better instructed about protection against HIV than the general population.

14. People with AIDS usually do not die from this disease. 
Type of question: Knowledge 

üCommentary:  The answer is no. AIDS is a progressive, devastating illness that, unless recognized early and treated effectively and conscientiously by both the patient and the doctor, will lead to mortal infectious, degenerative, metabolic or neoplastic consequences.

15. The same virus that causes herpes causes AIDS.   
Type of question: Knowledge.

üAnswer is no. Herpes viruses have been implicated as cofactors in the progression of HIV infection to AIDS. However, the herpes virus is an entirely different microorganism than the HIV agent.

16. You can get AIDS from shaking hands or hugging someone who is infected with the AIDS virus. 
Type of question: Knowledge

üCommentary:  The answer is no. There is evidence no that the AIDS virus is transmitted through these types of human contacts.

17.You can get AIDS by sharing needles with drug users who are infected.
Type of question: Knowledge

üCommentary:  The answer is yes. This is a very high risk practice that is responsible for the link between the drug epidemic and the HIV pandemic.

18. A positive blood test for the AIDS virus means that you have AIDS.
Type of question: Knowledge 

üCommentary:  The answer is no. Infection with HIV generally results in the production of specific antibodies against the HIV virus. The presence of these large molecules, the antibodies against HIV, is the basis for the positive test. HIV antibody tests have a high sensitivity, that is the ability to detect the patients who have the illness, but it is not always 100%.

 19. You can get AIDS by donating blood.  
Type of question: Knowledge.

üCommentary:  The answer is no. Blood donations are extracted into sterile containers through sterile, disposable needles. There is no risk of contracting HIV by donating blood.

20. Many gay women gave the AIDS virus.  
Type of question: Attitude

üCommentary:  The answer is it depends on other risk factors such as intravenous drug use and heterosexual contacts with infected individuals.

21. AIDS is not as big a problem as the media suggests.
Type of question: Attitude

üCommentary:  In some parts of the US, the media has been more open than in others in covering the story of AIDS. In general, most experts would agree that the media has not conveyed the seriousness and devastation associated with this growing epidemic.

22. It is important that students learn about AIDS in classes taught at this high school.
Type of question: Attitude

üCommentary:  Indeed, most experts agree that education of the at-risk individuals is the most effective tool we have to control this epidemic. Since in most surveys students begin to experiment with interpersonal sexual relations at age 12, it seems imperative to provide proper, accurate instruction on the risks of such sexual interaction before it begins.

23. I know enough to protect myself from the AIDS virus.
Type of question: Attitude

üCommentary. Check your answers with your teacher, your doctor, or your counselor. The knowledge base for this disease, AIDS and HIV infection, is growing. Therefore, the pursuit of knowledge in the area of HIV requires both discipline and perseverance.

24. AIDS will not spread to the general population.  
Type of question: Attitude

üCommentary:  Many people had that idea. However, the pandemia has reached Asia and the fastest growing groups with HIV infection are women and adolescents. Therefore, this was a theoretical question in 1990 but is turning out that it is a statement of fact in 2005.

25.  I have a good understanding of how AIDS is spread. 
Type of question: Attitude

üCommentary:  The point is that if you are wrong you be at risk. Therefore, check your answers and discuss you impressions with your friends and teachers.

26. People are more concerned about AIDS than it is necessary. 
Type of question: Attitude

üCommentary:  People in general are not that concerned about AIDS. There is a great deal of denial in most people regarding the fact that this disease is in the community.

27. I feel comfortable about asking a sexual partner about prior partners and HIV. 
Type of question: Attitude

üCommentary:  You must have an idea about the risk for HIV infection in your sexual partner, The most logical manner to find this out is to ask.

28. I am afraid of getting AIDS. 
Type of question: Attitude

üCommentary:  It is probably better to be afraid that to be too sure that you will not get HIV infection.

29. High School students with AIDS should be allowed to attend class.
Type of question: Attitude

üCommentary: Students who are not harboring an illness that is communicable disease through their respiratory tract and have no uncontrolled bleeding lesions should be able to be in school with students not infected with HIV.