As University of Nicosia Vice Rector and Executive Director of RUBSI Social Research Centre Constantinos Fellas said presenting the results: The findings show that there is a lack of basic knowledge in relation to the virus’ transmission”. He proposes that the study’s findings are used in a dialogue between relevant government bodies and NGOs and in planning effective policies and strategies for the protection of public health.

Ministry of Health’s Pulmonology Director Ioannis Demetriades said the study was undertaken in the context of the ministry's prevention and awareness raising and was funded from the AIDS fund. The aim, he noted, is for findings to help in preparing such programmes, which will be planned and monitored by the AIDS National Committee.

The study was conducted via 900 questionnaires throughout Cyprus. The preliminary results presented are on the basis of 400 of those questionnaires. The age group of 21 – 25 reflects 34.34% of participants, while people aged 18 – 20 and 26 – 30 account for 18.68% and 18.41% respectively. The majority of respondents (56.87%) are college or university graduates. A total of 91.8% of people participating in the study said the virus is transmitted via use of the same needle, 88.5% through the transfusion of tainted blood and 68.4% from the pregnant mother to her unborn child. A 28.3% of respondents still believe the virus is transmitted through a mosquito bite and 19.7% from the toilets.

A small number of participants (3.4%) believes that the virus is transmitted via eating (hanging out) with an infected person while 4.6% consider you can get aids through the use of household items. Replying to a question whether the risk of getting HIV increases if there is a wound in the genitalia, 58.2% replied positively, 4.18% negatively while 37.60% did not know. The majority of respondents (92.5%) replied that the correct use of a condom reduces the risk of infection, 93.8% consider the same if the same needle is not used and another 79.8% thinks the risk of infection drops if one has less sexual partners.

In a question as to whether it should be the responsibility of the man to decide whether to use a condom or not, participants replied that they “absolutely agree” by 20.3% and that they “agree” by 13.2%. Those who “absolutely disagreed” were 38.2% while 24.5% “disagreed”. At the same time 30.2% of respondents disagree and 62.6% “absolutely disagree” that AIDS is a disease which only affects homosexuals.

A 24.4% disagrees and a 66.9% absolutely disagrees that people infected with the virus got what they deserved. At the same time 26.6% disagree and 63.6% absolutely disagree that people who have been infected should be isolated from society. An 11.8% disagree and a 6.3% absolutely disagree that they could be friends with a person who has contracted the virus.

Replies on full sexual relations show that Cypriots begin having sex at 14 years old (5%), with 7% at 15 years old, 14% at sixteen and 21% at seventeen. A 10% of participants replied positively in question as to whether they have had sexual relations with a person of the same sex. Replying to a question as to whether the replies in this question show that certain matters considered as taboo are beginning to become more accepted in Cypriot society Fellas made the distinction between sexual identity and sexual behaviour, saying that the question had distinctly to do with the sexual behaviour of individuals. Positive replies in the same question at a study conducted in 2006 were recorded at 6.5%.

Source: Famagusta Gazette