Sexuality and HIV/AIDS: An Exploration of Older Heterosexual Women's Knowledge Levels |
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| Authors: | Pamela Ross Áine M Humble Ilya Blum |
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| Institution: | 1. Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness , Halifax , NS , Canada Pamela.Ross@gov.ns.ca;3. Department of Family Studies and Gerontology , Mount Saint Vincent University , Halifax , NS , Canada;4. Department of Mathematics , Mount Saint Vincent University , Halifax , NS , Canada |
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| Abstract: | Sexuality research tends to ignore older populations, and little is known about older women's sexual health knowledge. To fill this research gap, 186 Canadian heterosexual women 50 years and older were surveyed about their knowledge regarding sexuality and HIV/AIDS. Respondents had moderate levels of overall knowledge of sexual health and aging, correctly answering, on average, 60% of the 35 questions. They had lower levels of HIV/AIDS knowledge, correctly answering just over 50% of the 25 questions. Results indicate the need for social awareness and education in this group regarding both general sexual health later in life and HIV/AIDS. |
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| Keywords: | AIDS Canada HIV knowledge older women sexuality STI |
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