Attitudes and Practices Related to HIV/AIDS Prevention: Results from the Zimbabwe National Young Adult Survey

Joan M. Herold, Emory University
Hazel M. Dube, Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council
Leo Morris, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Mike St. Louis, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Zimbabwe has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS infection in the world. The National Young Adult Survey was conducted in 2001/2 for the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health by the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in response to the country's critical situation. Its purpose was to provide national prevalence rates of HIV for Zimbabwean young adults, and other baseline data to aid in the development and evaluation of AIDS related programs. The Survey was based on a national household probability sample of over 6000 males and females 15-29 years of age. This paper contains the first results of the Zimbabwe Young Adult Survey. The analysis is descriptive, presenting rates of HIV prevalence, along with data on experience with and attitudes towards HIV testing, attitudes toward AIDS and persons infected with HIV, high risk sexual behavior, condom use and AIDS-related information.