HIV/AIDS than Canadians in general

• youth are misinformed about the risk of mosquito bites in the transmission of HIV/AIDS than Canadians in general (37 per cent cited is as a method of transmission versus 25 per cent of the overall sample);
  
• Young Canadians are less apt to indicate injection drug users (15 versus 31 per cent overall) and homosexual men (23 versus 47 per cent overall) as being mostly affected by HIV/AIDS and, in general, are less apt to name any group that has been most affected by the disease (51 versus 30 per cent overall);
  
• More youth are focused on the risk of pregnancy when thinking about safer sex (30 versus 17 per cent overall);
  
• Youth are less knowledgeable regarding methods of testing for HIV/AIDS. Slightly higher proportions than the overall average of all Canadians believe that physical examinations and doctors' visits can be used for testing, and proportionately fewer indicated blood tests as a means for testing (71 versus 81 per cent in the overall sample);
  
• Fewer youth have faith in the existence of effective treatments for HIV/AIDS compared with the broader Canadian public (40 versus 49 per cent);
  
• Youth are less apt to know who is responsible for coordinating the Canadian Strategy for HIV/AIDS (56 versus 46 per cent do not know).

b) Perceptions of Risk

• Slightly higher proportions of youth perceive themselves to be at some risk of contracting HIV/AIDS (13 versus 7 per cent indicate a moderate level of risk) and that the general risk of contracting HIV/AIDS is higher today compared to five years ago (59 versus 46 per cent);
  
• Youth are the most likely group of Canadians to perceive an increased rate of HIV/AIDS infection in Canada compared to ten years ago (80 versus 71 per cent);
  
• Youth are more likely than the overall population to believe that HIV testing has increased over the last ten years (83 versus 72 per cent), that there has been an increase in safer sex practices (67 versus 58 per cent) and that those infected with the disease are more diligent in taking steps to protect others (70 versus 61 per cent).