HIV/AIDS related knowledge and attitude among street children

Objective To know the awareness rate of street children about HIV/AIDS knowledge and to provide basis for HIV/AIDS prevention education among street children.Methods Questionnaire survey and interview were conducted among 295 street children in Zhengzhou city.Results Among 295 street children,the knowledge rate for HIV transmission through touching wound of HIV infected person without protection,having sex with infected person without condom use,and infected mother to the infant was 58.1%,61.7%,and 74.6%,respectively.The percentage of the children knew that the HIV could not be transmitted by having dinner with,hugging with,and eating meals prepared by HIV infected person was 35.9%,44.7%,and 31.5,respectively.8.1% of the children knew that HIV could not be prevented by physical excercise and only 7.1% knew nutrition intake could not prevent HIV infection.Conclusion Compared with school children,street children know little about HIV/AIDS and lack skills to refuse temptation and have weak preventive consciousness.They are more vulnerable to HIV infection.