Table 2.
Changes in Public Attitudes Toward People With AIDS Between 1991 and 1999 in the United States
| 1991 | 1997 | 1999 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| % (95% CI) | % (95% CI) | % (95% CI) | |
| Support for coercive policies | Response: “agree” or “strongly agree” | ||
| People with AIDS should be legally separated from others to protect the public health | 34.4 (30.4–38.4) | 16.6 (14.6–18.6) | 12.0 (9.5–14.5) |
| The names of people with AIDS should be made available to the public so that others can avoid them | 28.8 (25.0–32.6) | 18.6 (16.5–20.7) | 16.3 (13.5–19.1) |
| People who got AIDS through sex or drug use have gotten what they deserve | 20.3 (16.9–23.7) | 28.1 (25.7–30.5) | 24.8 (21.5–28.1) |
| Most people with AIDS are responsible for their illness | not asked | 53.5 (50.9–56.1) | 48.3 (44.5–52.1) |
| Negative feelings toward people with AIDS | Response: “somewhat” or “very” afraid, disgusted | ||
| Afraid | 34.6 (30.6–38.6) | 20.0 (17.8–22.2) | 20.2 (17.1–23.3) |
| Disgusted | 26.6 (22.8–30.4) | 18.3 (16.2–20.4) | 16.0 (13.2–18.8) |
| Intentions to avoid contact with people with AIDS | Response: % who would avoid people with AIDS in this situation | ||
| Suppose you had a young child who was attending school where one of the students was known to have AIDS | 14.9 (11.8–18.0) | 9.9 (8.3–11.5) | 8.5 (6.4–10.6) |
| Suppose you worked in an office where one of the men working with you developed AIDS | 18.6 (15.3–21.9) | 11.7 (9.9–13.5) | 9.1 (6.9–11.3) |
| Suppose you found out that the owner of the small neighborhood grocery store where you like to shop has AIDS | 45.2 (41.0–49.4) | 32.2 (29.7–34.7) | 29.3 (25.8–32.8) |
Acknowledgement: The data reported in this table are from: Herek, G. M., Capitanio, J. P., & Widaman, K. F. (2002). HIV-related stigma and knowledge in the United States: prevalence and trends, 1991–1999. American Journal of Public Health, 92(3), 371–377, doi: 10.2105/ajph.92.3.371.