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  e ll :
’ t T I V
D o n d H
s k , a n ge
’ t A H I V o l le
D o n O n g C
d e s o n
i t u e A m
At t u r n t s
c l o s u de
D i s S t

Andre Norris-Darby
William Paterson University
Interpersonal Communication Capstone, Comm 445-60
Professor: Dr. Diana Peck
 ABSTRACT
There is an alarming rate of Human Immunodeficiency Virus
(HIV) transmission among persons aged 15-29, this age range is
also reflective of the general collegiate population. In an effort to
better understand the interpersonal variables that influence the
attitudes held by college students toward HIV and the disclosure
of HIV positive diagnoses, this study examines the open-ended
responses of 100 college students from several New Jersey public
Universities. There is a direct correlation between the amount of
information individuals possess on HIV prevention and
epidemiology. Knowledge in this case equals the power to avoid
transmission of HIV, and reduce any negative stigma held toward
a HIV positive diagnosis. Results from this study show a strong
need for HIV prevention and education among college students.
LITERARY REVIEW & BACKGROUND

Was composed of several articles, websites, and

books related to the experiences of individuals
living with HIV/AIDS

Gave global perspectives on the HIV pandemic by

sharing the experiences of HIV positive individuals
in remote areas of the world

Looks at the interpersonal variables that impact

the lives and choices that HIV positive individuals
combat in an effort to handle prescription
adherence and disclosure
 POPULATION
51
THE POPULATION OF THIS
50.5 STUDY WAS COMPOSED OF
100 COLLEGE STUDENTS
50 FROM FOUR OF NEW
JERSEY’S PUBLIC
49.5 Female
UNIVERSITIES. AFTER
49
ANALYZING THE DATA I
WAS ABLE TO SEE THAT 49
48.5 MALES HAD PARTICIPATED,
AND 51 FEMALES GIVING
48 ME A DIVERSE OPINIONS
Male Female
FROM BOTH SEXES.
 PARTICIPATING
UNIVERSITIES
William Paterson Rutgers University
University Newark Campus
• Males: 40 • Male: 7
• Females 43 • Female: 8
• Combined 83 • Combined: 15

Kean University New Jersey City

• Male: 1 University
• Male: 1
 ETHNICITY

Male Female Total

6% Caucasian 8 17 25
6% 16%
4% African/ 27 21 48
Afro-American
12% Latino/Hispanic 6 3 9
Asian/ 2 3 5
Asian-American
55% Hawaiian 3 1 4
Caucasian
Other 3 6 9
African/ Afro-American
Latino/Hispanic
Asian/Asian-American
Hawaiian
 AGES SURVEYED
30

25

20
Male
15 Female
Total
10

0
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 27 28 29 30
Research Analysis
 It was important to look
into the stigma that is held by
individuals towards HIV. With a set of
fourteen questions, this study aims to
provide data that will evaluate the
interpersonal variables influencing this
stigma.
The survey access participants
general knowledge of HIV, their
attitudes towards HIV and HIV
disclosure, and any stigmas possessed
by participants.
Participants where not asked to disclose
their own HIV status, and the entire
selection process was voluntary and
random to minimize bias
 Question #4
Do You Know What The Acronym H.I.V stands for…?
Results Trends
• Yes: 20 Female participants displayed
• No: 15 more knowledge than Male
Male
• Incorrect: 14
Responses participants

• Yes: 26 Most participants had an idea

• No: 13 about what HIV stands for,
Female however a majority had no idea
Responses
• Incorrect: 9
what the acronym stands for
• Yes: 46 Lack of basic knowledge about
• No: 28 HIV suggest a conscious effort
Combined
• Incorrect: 23
Responses to avoid dealing with the
subject
 Question #5
Do You Know How To Avoid Being Infected With HIV?
Results Trends

Male Responses All participants showed

• Yes: 49, With various explanations
a basic knowledge of
provided HIV prevention.
Female Responses
The most popular
• Yes: 48, With various explanations responses were:
provided
• No: 2, No explanation Condoms
• Other: 1, not clear/no answer Avoiding infected
Combined Responses bodily fluids
Abstinence
• Yes: 97
• No: 2 Avoidance of IV drug
• Other: 1 usage, and needles
 Question #6
Do You Know Any HIV Treatments?
Results Trends

Most Participants believe that

Male Female only financially wealth
Responses Responses individuals have access to proper
medical care
Yes: 7 Yes: 5 Some of the most interesting
responses were blood
No: 30 No: 37 transfusions, and chemo therapy

Other: The overall group believe that

Other: 9 there are no treatment available
12 for HIV

Combined responses
Yes:12 No: 67 Other: 21
Participant #47’s Response
“ IN SOUTH PARK, THEY
SAY MONEY, HOWEVER ,
THE ONLY PERSON THAT
KNOWS THE ANSWER IS
MAJIC JOHNSON”
 Question #7
Who Do You Think HIV Affects The Most?
Results Trends
By asking people who the 25
believed HIV to affect the most,
20
the study is able to provide insight
into the stigmas held by college 15
students, and their perceived 10
susceptibility to HIV transmission. 5

Overall participants felt that 0

African Americans were one of
the most affected populations
when it came to HIV Transmission Male
Respons
es
 Question #8
Have You Ever Been Tested For HIV?
If Yes, When and Where? If No, Would you like to be ?

Other
• Female Responses • Male
Last Year • 13 Reponse
s 11
Last 6 Months Ye
No
Last 3 Months s
Last Month
Ye
Last Week No s
• Female • Male
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Responses 11 Response
Yes/Femal s 8
e
Yes/Male
 Question #9
Do You Know Where You Can Be Tested?
Researcher’s Notes Results

This is another question in the

study which provides
researcher's with insight into
the receptiveness of
Female Responses
advertisements for HIV testing
services.

The other alarming

implications of this questions
responses, is the general Male Responses
knowledge base of college
students about HIV testing
services 0 10 20 30 40 50 60
 Question #10
Would You Take Someone With You When You Got Tested For HIV,
Why or Why Not?
Results Trends

Combined Responses Most participants indicated

• Yes: 58 that they would take someone
• No: 34
• Other: 8
with them, usually their
current sexual partner,
because they felt they would
Female Responses
• Yes: 34 need support if they received
• No: 15 a positive diagnosis
• Other: 2
Most all the indicated they
Male Responses would not take someone with
• Yes: 24 them said it was because they
• No: 19 felt the process of being tested
• Other: 6 was too private
 Question #11
If Someone You Knew, Was HIV Positive Would You Want To Know
Why or Why Not?
Results Trends

There was clear

Combined
emotional distress
Female expressed in the
physical writing of
Male
participants, which this
0 10 20
30 40 50 study anticipated, due
60 70
to the discomfort
created by making HIV
personally relevant to
participants.
 Question #12
If You Tested Positive For HIV Would You Tell Anyone,
If Yes Who and Why, If No Why Not?
Results Trends

Surprisingly, a large
Male Responses percentage of the study’s
participate felt that they
Yes: 32 No: 6 Other: 11 would disclose a positive
Female Responses diagnoses to close friends,
family, and their partners.
Yes: 39 No: 5 Other: 7
This was shocking because
Combined Responses
up until this point most
Yes: 71 No: 11 Other: responses indicate a large
18
level of discomfort toward
HIV.
 Question #13
Would You Have A Romantic Relationship With Someone Who Is
HIV Positive, Why or Why Not?
Results Trends
This is one of two key questions that I
asked in this study and as
Male Responses anticipated:
• Yes: 3 No: 42
• Other: 4 The 8 individuals who said Yes, did so
because of love
Female Responses
• Yes: 8 No: 33 While all others indicated that fear of
• Other: 10 contracting the virus would prevent
them from being romantically
Combined Responses involved with a HIV positive person
• Yes: 8 No: 75
• Other: 14 There were also a small group of
participants who simply did not know
how to respond
 Question #14
Would You Have Sex With Someone You Knew Was HIV Positive,
Why or Why Not?

Results

Chart Title

90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Males Females Combined
Weaknesses and Implications
Discussing the results of the Study
The study suggests a strong need to see if the opinions
expressed in this study are shared by members of this
community on global scale

The study suggests a strong need to evaluate how stigmas are

developed and implemented in relation to H.I.V

The study suggest a strong need for research into the efficacy
of messages designed to encourage participation in H.I.V
services.

Social Acceptance Bias was one of the strongest weaknesses of

the study

Presentation also presented difficulty in the study

The only other weakness that could have seriously impacted

the study was the ambiguous language expressed in certain
question