The role of sympathy on avoidance intention toward persons living with HIV/AIDS in Jamaica

Abstract

As the number of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) continues to increase in Jamaica, concerns of attitudes become more important. As such, the objective of the present study is to examine the attitudes of university students in Jamaica toward PLWHA including sympathy and avoidance intentions. A large sample of university students (N=1,252) was surveyed between June 2001 and February 2002 using a 193-item questionnaire that measured HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. Results revealed that less than half of the students reported sympathetic attitudes toward homosexual males or female prostitutes living with HIV/AIDS (41% and 44%, respectively) while the majority reported sympathetic attitudes toward heterosexual males and non-prostitute females living with the disease (67% and 81%, respectively). Most students (80%) reported no avoidance intentions toward family members or friends living with the disease. Sympathy, HIV knowledge, education and awareness were associated with no avoidance intention of HIV-positive family members and friends. These findings suggest that sympathy could be important in improving prosocial intentions toward PLWHA and warrants further research.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Mr. Bob Ritchie of the RCMI Program Publication Office (Grant #2 G12 RR03050), Ponce School of Medicine, Ponce, Puerto Rico, for editing the manuscript.