World AIDS Day 2007 Contest

In order to mark the World AIDS Day (December 1), this year, the nongovernmental organization "Childhood for all", with the support of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) in Moldova, has organized an online contest. The contest comprised 10 multiple-choice questions followed by five answer options each, out of which only was correct. The questions tested elementary knowledge about HIV and AIDS, such as ways of transmission, the HIV impact in statistical data, and the history of the global response to the HIV epidemic.

The World AIDS Day 2007 contest was open to all the citizens of the Republic of Moldova 30 years of age or younger, except the employees or people otherwise affiliated to the UN and governmental, international or nongovernmental organizations employed in the national response to HIV, as well as their primary relatives (spouse, daughter/son, sibling).

The contest was open until November 30, 2007.


1. What is the international symbol of solidarity with people living with HIV?

  a red ribbon

  a pink ribbon

  a black ribbon

  a black rose

  a snake coiled around a staff

Correct answer

2. In what year was World AIDS Day first introduced?

  1980

  1988

  1990

  1997

  2004

Correct answer

3. On what date was the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial marked in the Republic of Moldova this year (2007)?

  February 14

  April 1

  May 19

  October 24

  December 1

Correct answer

4. Which of the following ways can one get HIV?

  contaminated medical equipment, unprotected sexual intercourse with an HIV-positive person, mosquito bite

  sharing syringes for injecting drugs, contaminated medical equipment, hugs

  mother to child, sharing syringes for injecting drugs, sneezing and coughing

  unprotected sexual intercourse with an HIV-positive person, sharing syringes for injecting drugs, sharing tableware during meals

  unprotected sexual intercourse with an HIV-positive person, sharing syringes for injecting drugs, mother to child

Correct answer

5. Can the risk of mother-to-child HIV transmission be diminished?

  yes, the risk can be lowered considerably

  yes, the risk can be reduced, but only by an insignificant margin

  yes, but only when the mother contracted HIV after the conception of the child

  yes, but only if the father of the child was not HIV-positive

  no, unfortunately HIV is always passed from the mother to the child

Correct answer

6. Because the concentration of antibodies in the blood is insufficiently high, the HIV test can show a negative result for up to 3–4 months from the moment the person gets infected with HIV. This period is called:

  blind period

  latent antibody period

  retroviral trap

  window period

  black hole

Correct answer

7. Which of the following body fluids CANNOT be associated with HIV transmission ways?

  semen and vaginal secretions

  perspiration and tears

  blood and semen

  breast milk and tears

  semen and breast milk

Correct answer

8. Where can one take the HIV test in the Republic of Moldova?

  only at the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

  at the National AIDS Centre or the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

  at the AIDS Foundation East-West (AFEW) or the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

  at the National Dermatovenerological Dispensary or the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

  at the National AIDS Centre and most clinics

Correct answer

9. According to statistics, how many HIV-positive people were there in the world in 2006?

  fewer than 15 million

  about 30 million

  about 40 million

  about 80 million

  over 100 million

Correct answer

10. How many HIV cases were officially registered between 1987 and the end of 2006?

  0

  340

  1700

  3400

  17000

Correct answer

Contest Results

150 young people participated in the contest.

30 young people (20%) provided correct answers to 10 out of 10 questions.

10 out of the 30 participants who had the maximum score were randomly selected to receive a 20 US dollar prize each.


Contest Statistics

The average age (in years) of the participants: 21–22

The median age (in years) of the participants: 22

Question 4 (HIV transmission ways) received the highest correct response rate – 97%

Question 1 (red ribbon) received the second highest correct response rate –95%

Question 7 (ways HIV cannot be transmitted) received the third highest correct response rate – 94%

Question 6 (window period) received the lowest correct response rate – 51%

Question 8 (HIV test in Moldova) received the second lowest correct response rate – 59%