Child care providers and AIDS: a study of knowledge versus acceptance.

A survey of child care providers' knowledge of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission and attitudes toward recommended child care policies regarding AIDS was conducted in a Southeastern state. Significant knowledge differences regarding HIV transmission were found between certain comparison groups, although all groups agreed more than disagreed with current information about HIV transmission. In contrast, the child care providers were uniformly more cautious than accepting of recommended child care policies regarding AIDS. Suggestions for follow-up research and educational strategies to promote providers' acceptance of children with AIDS are discussed.