       Document 0612
 DOCN  M9620612
 TI    HIV/AIDS knowledge and high risk sexual practices among southern
       California Vietnamese.
 DT    9602
 AU    Gellert GA; Maxwell RM; Higgins KV; Mai KK; Lowery R; Doll L; Project
       HOPE Health Sciences Education Center, Millwood, VA; 22646, USA.
 SO    Genitourin Med. 1995 Aug;71(4):216-23. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96046497
 AB    OBJECTIVES--Vietnamese immigration to the U.S. since the conclusion of
       the Vietnam war has been substantial and in Orange County, CA,
       Vietnamese Americans comprise 3% of the population (the largest
       community in the US). Our objective was to collect data on the HIV/AIDS
       knowledge, attitudes and self-reported high risk behaviours within this
       community. METHODS--A survey instrument was administered anonymously in
       Vietnamese to 532 respondents in their homes. Individuals from three
       population strata were randomly sampled: men 18 to 35 years old (N =
       193); men 36 to 45 years old (N = 137); and women 18 to 35 years old (N
       = 202). Data were gathered on: (1) degree of acculturation; (2)
       knowledge and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS; and (3) self-reported sexual
       and other high risk practices. RESULTS--Survey data indicated that 38%
       of respondents were very worried about themselves and 83% were worried
       about a family member getting AIDS. Knowledge about actual modes of HIV
       transmission was generally accurate, but a substantial minority still
       believed that HIV can be transmitted through casual contact, and 68%
       from needles used in hospitals. Women demonstrated less accurate
       knowledge than men on five key items. Quarantine of the HIV infected was
       agreed to by 45%. Twenty-nine percent did not believe that the epidemic
       would affect them personally, and 49% stated that they did not have
       enough information about AIDS to protect themselves. Regarding sexual
       practices, 31% reported never having had sex. Of the others, 8% had two
       or more sexual partners in the prior 12 months. No same sex behaviour
       was reported. Six percent of men had visited a female prostitute; of
       these, 24% had visited 2 or more in the prior 12 months; half of
       encounters in this time period were outside the US. Substantial
       percentages of sexually active, unmarried respondents indicated that
       they never use (17-40%) or only sometimes use (10-32%) condoms. Less
       than 1% had used injection drugs. CONCLUSIONS--Education should be
       targeted at the Vietnamese community of southern California to improve
       knowledge that HIV cannot be contracted through casual contact, to
       convey information about methods for self-protection, and to reduce high
       risk sexual practices such as unprotected sex, sex with multiple
       partners and sex with prostitutes.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/ETHNOLOGY/PSYCHOLOGY  Adolescence
       Adult  *Attitude to Health  California/EPIDEMIOLOGY  Female  Human  HIV
       Infections/ETHNOLOGY/*PSYCHOLOGY  Male  Random Allocation  *Risk-Taking
       Self Disclosure  Sex Behavior  Sex Factors  Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
       Vietnam/ETHNOLOGY  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

