Level of Knowledge and Risk of Contracting HIV/AIDS Amongst Young Adults with Mild/Moderate Intellectual Disability

Abstract

This study was designed to explore the level of knowledge and risk of contracting HIV/AIDS amongst a sample of 60 young adults with mild/moderate intellectual disability. In comparison to a sample of undergraduate students, they showed greater deficits in their general knowledge of the disease and in methods to minimise risk of infection. They also had less adaptive attitudes regarding AIDS in general and specifically with regard to condom use, and they had lower confidence in their capacity to accomplish safe-sex practices. Furthermore, when presented with hypothetical risk situations they were more likely to present unsafe sexual solutions to the interpersonal dilemmas. These indications of potential risk were compounded by the finding that the majority were either sexually active or had strong intentions to become so, and that poor performance on the range of measures was associated with greater behavioural risk as assessed by actual or anticipated sexual activities. The implications of these results are discussed in relation to the need for urgent implementation and ongoing evaluation of multifaceted educational programmes.