A survey of knowledge and attitudes with regard to AIDS among grade 7 and 8 students in Ottawa-Carleton.

With parental consent, we surveyed 942 students in grade 7 and 8 at the Ottawa Board of Education before the introduction of compulsory AIDS education. Television was seen as the most common and credible source of information about AIDS. Parents (by girls) and school nurse (by boys) were also seen as credible sources of information about AIDS. Boys seemed to know more about the transmission of AIDS than girls did. There was high awareness of condoms as an effective method of preventing the spread of AIDS. Avoidance of sexual intercourse as an effective preventive measure was less well known. AIDS education in school should emphasize abstinence as well as barrier methods as effective methods in preventing AIDS, and utilize the media, parents and family in educating students about AIDS.