A recent survey conducted by the State Family Planning Commission shows that one-fifth of Chinese adults of reproductive age have not heard of HIV/AIDS. AIDS awareness is much lower in rural areas than in urban areas and is slightly lower among women than among men. Results show that television is an important medium for increasing awareness of HIV/AIDS. In addition to mass media, face-to-face meetings with health and family planning personnel, supported by appropriate information materials, appear to be a promising—and underexploited—avenue for increasing AIDS awareness.

A recent survey conducted by the State Family Planning Commission shows that one-fifth of Chinese adults of reproductive age have not heard of HIV/AIDS. AIDS awareness is much lower in rural areas than in urban areas and is slightly lower among women than among men. Results show that television is an important medium for increasing awareness of HIV/AIDS. In addition to mass media, face-to-face meetings with health and family planning personnel, supported by appropriate information materials, appear to be a promising—and underexploited—avenue for increasing AIDS awareness.