March 25, 2008

China's Online HIV Quiz a Success

An online quiz launched in China last year challenged visitors to put their knowledge of HIV transmission, prevention and stigma to the test. It reached nearly 19 million people in just three months, the China Daily newspaper reports (chinadaily.com.cn, 3/18).

Sponsored by the China AIDS Roadmap Tactical Support Project and launched by the country’s Ministry of Education, the online contest asked visitors to answer 100 HIV/AIDS-related questions. According to a survey of site participants, 95 percent reported that they felt better prepared to protect themselves against HIV infection after taking the quiz, and that same number reported an increased concern for people living with the virus. While the website was taken down when a winner was declared, more than 83 percent of participants thought that this contest should be held annually.

“I am beginning to realize that AIDS is not far from us at all and we should learn to protect ourselves,” 14-year-old contest winner Yang Chengcheng from the Yunnan province told China Daily. In addition to gaining a better understanding of the mounting HIV epidemic in China—which reported more than 220,000 total cases by the end of September 2007—Chengcheng also won an mp3 player.

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