OBJECTIVE: Determining adolescents' level of knowledge (LK) about HIV/AIDS using descriptive investigation. METHODS: The population was represented by 329 students from the 4th and 5th grades from two public high-schools. A non-probabilistic sample was formed by 208 available students from the high schools and to whom a questionnaire concerning HIV/AIDS, prevention and transmission mode was applied. RESULTS: The participants' mean age was 15.9 +/- 1.24; 57.2 % were female. 24.5 % reported a 'good' LK, 67.3 % 'fair' LK and 8.2 % 'deficient' LK. LK concerning preventative measures showed that 25.5 % knew them. 95.7 % answered correctly that, 'HIV/AIDS can be transmitted by unprotected sexual relations,' and 41.8 % answered incorrectly that, 'There is no way of protecting against HIV.' CONCLUSIONS: The students generally had fair LK. Educational strategies must be implemented to improve knowledge about the disease, its consequences and preventative measures for protecting this group at risk.
OBJECTIVE: Determining adolescents' level of knowledge (LK) about HIV/AIDS using descriptive investigation. METHODS: The population was represented by 329 students from the 4th and 5th grades from two public high-schools. A non-probabilistic sample was formed by 208 available students from the high schools and to whom a questionnaire concerning HIV/AIDS, prevention and transmission mode was applied. RESULTS: The participants' mean age was 15.9 +/- 1.24; 57.2 % were female. 24.5 % reported a 'good' LK, 67.3 % 'fair' LK and 8.2 % 'deficient' LK. LK concerning preventative measures showed that 25.5 % knew them. 95.7 % answered correctly that, 'HIV/AIDS can be transmitted by unprotected sexual relations,' and 41.8 % answered incorrectly that, 'There is no way of protecting against HIV.' CONCLUSIONS: The students generally had fair LK. Educational strategies must be implemented to improve knowledge about the disease, its consequences and preventative measures for protecting this group at risk.