Perceptions of and attitudes to HIV/AIDS among young adults in cape town

Abstract Interviews conducted by university students with young adults in Cape Town, South Africa, revealed that general knowledge of HIV/AIDS transmission is good. Students and their interviewees are familiar with the principles of the South African ‘ABC campaign, yet many students report that they and their interviewees are ‘bored with AIDS education'; and ‘sick and tired’ of hearing about AIDS. Discourse about the disease is usually couched in terms of debate around ‘safe’ and ‘unsafe’ sex, where sex is defined as heterosexual, vaginally penetrative intercourse, where ‘safe sex’ means ‘protected sex’ and where ‘protection’ means use of condom. Condom‐use is negatively associated with trust in relationships. Few of the respondents had discussed HIV/AIDS with their partners, and few reported having had HIV tests. Few say that they know people with HIV/AIDS. Despite the fact that the HIV/AIDS public campaign has specifically been constructed around awareness/prevention of ‘risk behaviours’, respondents are consistent in their reference to risk groups. Respondents consistently stereotype those at risk and, in so doing, distance the possibility of personal risk.