Public reactions to people with HIV/AIDS in the Netherlands

A national telephone survey was conducted to (a) assess present-day public reactions to people with HIV/AIDS in the Netherlands, (bi measure how knowl edge about highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) is related to publi c reactions to people with HIV/AIDS, rind (c) investigate determinants of w illingness to have personal contact with people with HIV/AIDS. Dutch adults (N = 751) participated in a telephone interview conducted to measure cogni tive, emotional, and behavioral reactions to people with HIV/AIDS. This stu dy has shown that public reactions to people with HIV/AIDS seem to be moder ately positive in the Netherlands. Knowledge about HAART is related to lowe r risk perceptions, a positive attitude toward homosexuals, less fear, and more willingness to have personal contact with people with HIV/AIDS. In par ticular, cognitive and emotional factors are meaningfully related to willin gness to have personal contact with people with HIV/AIDS. Implications for Dutch AIDS educational campaigns aimed at stigma reduction are discussed.