Only less than 30 percent of Chinese
people say they care for AIDS patients, while 43 percent consider
the deadly disease "fearful and disgusting," according to
a survey conducted recently. With the support of two international
organizations, the State Family Planning Commission conducted the
survey for AIDS publicity and education in Dec. of 2000.
The survey, with 7,053 questionnaires completed, covered seven
counties in Beijing, Shanghai, Heilongjiang, Henan, Guangdong, Guangxi
and Hainan. Ninety-nine point six percent of the respondents are
in the 15-49 age group, 83 percent are married couples, while 14
percent are single young people.
The survey shows that 33.2 percent of people are concerned for
AIDS patients and HIV-positive carriers, and 23.2 percent are sympathetic.
However, for fear of becoming infected, 30 percent want to avoid
contacting AID patients, 8.8 percent feel disgusted and 3.9 percent
say they reproach them.
Experts said that taking the attitude of caring for AIDS patients
and HIV-positive carriers is vital to preventing and controlling
the deadly disease. They called for greater efforts to be made to
teach people to take good care of AIDS patients and HIV-positive
carriers.
(People's Daily 04/12)
|