According to the latest reports, the Eastern Europe currently exhibits the greatest relative
increase in the number of newly registered HIV infections in the world. At the
same time, Central Europe remains relatively spared from the epidemic, with reported
rates significantly lower than those in both Eastern and Western Europe. Croatia geographically
affiliates to Central Europe, but it has two specific potential risk factors in
comparison to neighboring countries: recent War events and a summer season when immigration
of large number of tourists from Central and Eastern Europe is expected.
Therefore, it is critical to examine AIDS attitudes in young people, increase their knowledge,
monitor their behavior and warn on risks in order to prevent larger spread of epidemics
from Eastern Europe to Croatia. In this study, we report on a large related survey
and education program among 17-year-old high school pupils that was conducted
in years immediately following the War (1996–1999)
