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Perceptions Of Hiv/Aids Testing Among Urban And Rural African American Church Members, Roblena E. Walker

Journal of the Georgia Public Health Association

Background: The prevalence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to affect African Americans (AA) disproportionately. The purpose of this mixed methods study, guided by the health belief model, was to examine associations linking church and ambient social environment with knowledge and perceptions of HIV/AIDS testing amongst urban and rural AA church members.

Methods: Multiple regressions and t tests were used to compare perceptions of HIV/AIDS testing and knowledge of HIV/AIDS among 236 participants selected from two AA churches located in a large city (n = 122) and in a rural town (n =114) in the Southern U.S.

Results: The …

Dental Patients' Knowledge, Beliefs, And Perceptions About Dentistry And Aids, Sara S. Plaspohl

Legacy ETDs

The majority of Americans view AIDS as the most important health problem faced today. Despite efforts to educate the public, the literature suggests that misperceptions exist concerning HIV transmission. The documented case of a Florida dentist who transmitted the HIV virus to five dental patients focused the public's attention on its perceived vulnerability to contracting HIV during a dental visit. The purpose' of this descriptive study was to identify the dental patient's perceived risk of acquiring the AIDS virus during a dental visit and to then determine whether the perceived risk was related to the patient's level of oral hygiene. …