Table 2.
HIV and Hepatitis C Knowledge Assessment Among DSNCC Community Health Advisors (N=124)
| Questions | Total | % Correct |
|---|---|---|
| HIV Knowledge Questions | ||
| People are likely to get HIV by deep kissing, putting their tongue in their partner’s mouth, if their partner has HIV (F). | 124 | 36.3% |
| There is a female condom that can help decrease a woman’s chance of getting HIV (T). | 122 | 50.8% |
| A natural skin condom works better against HIV than does a latex condom (F). | 121 | 59.5% |
| A person can get HIV by sharing a glass of water with someone who has HIV (F). | 122 | 63.9% |
| All pregnant women infected with HIV will have babies born with AIDS (F). | 123 | 67.5% |
| Coughing and sneezing DO NOT spread HIV (T). | 122 | 68.0% |
| Taking a test for HIV one week after having sex will tell a person if she or he has HIV (F). | 123 | 77.2% |
| Using Vaseline or baby oil with condoms lowers the chance of getting HIV (F). | 123 | 78.1% |
| A person can get HIV by sitting in a hot tub or a swimming pool with a person who has HIV (F). | 122 | 79.5% |
| A woman can get HIV if she has anal sex with a man (T). | 116 | 83.6% |
| There is a vaccine that can stop adults from getting HIV (F). | 119 | 82.4% |
| A person can get HIV from oral sex (T). | 122 | 83.6% |
| Pulling out the penis before a man climaxes/cums keeps a woman from getting HIV during sex (F). | 123 | 89.4% |
| Showering, or washing one’s genitals/private parts, after sex keeps a person from getting HIV (F). | 124 | 89.5% |
| A woman cannot get HIV if she has sex during her period (F). | 120 | 90.8% |
| People who have been infected with HIV quickly show serious signs of being infected (F). | 124 | 91.1% |
| A person will NOT get HIV if she or he is taking antibiotics (F). | 123 | 92.6% |
| Having sex with more than one partner can increase a person’s chance of being infected with HIV (T). | 121 | 93.4% |
| Hepatitis C Knowledge Questions | ||
| There exists a hepatitis C vaccine that can be used to prevent people from getting infected with the hepatitis C virus (F). | 112 | 36.6% |
| Successful hepatitis C treatments can result in the hepatitis C virus being completely removed (or cleared) from one’s blood (T). | 111 | 46.9% |
| People with hepatitis C can safely take any herbal medicine (F). | 113 | 52.2% |
| There is some risk that hepatitis C can be given to someone by snorting cocaine with shared straws, rolled money, etc. (T). | 111 | 52.3% |
| The hepatitis C virus can be spread from shared kitchen cups, plates or utensils (F). | 118 | 72.0% |
| Coughing and sneezing can spread hepatitis C (F). | 116 | 73.4% |
| Hepatitis C can be given to someone during sexual intercourse (T). | 116 | 74.1% |
| Once someone’s hepatitis C virus has been completely treated and cleared, one cannot get re-infected with hepatitis C (F). | 117 | 82.1% |
| People who received a blood transfusion in Canada before 1991 may have been infected with hepatitis C (T). | 109 | 82.6% |
| It is a good idea for people living with hepatitis C to be vaccinated against hepatitis A and B (T). | 115 | 83.5% |
| Babies born to hepatitis C pregnant women can be infected with hepatitis C at birth (T). | 116 | 84.5% |
| People can live with hepatitis C for many years without knowing that they have been infected with the virus (T). | 117 | 86.3% |
| Studies show that more than 60% of people who inject street drugs with ‘used needles’ are infected with hepatitis C (T). | 119 | 87.4% |
| People can get infected with hepatitis C from tattoos and body piercing (T). | 119 118 | 89.1% 89.8% |
| Using ‘new’ (i.e. never used before) needles, syringes, and equipment reduces the risk of being infected with hepatitis C (T). | 112 | 92.9% |
| Some treatments for hepatitis C, such as interferon, can cause depression as a side effect in some patients (T). | 121 | 94.2% |
| People with Hepatitis C can safely share their toothbrushes and razors with other people (F). | 122 | 94.3% |
| People living with hepatitis C can damage their liver when they drink alcohol (T). | 120 | 95.8% |
| Hepatitis C can be given by hugs or handshakes (F). |
*
DSNCC=Deep South Network for Cancer Control. HIV=Human Immunodeficiency Virus.