Majority of Ethiopians Aware of How HIV is Spread

More than 95% of Ethiopians are aware of how HIV is transmitted due to "comprehensive public education" about the virus, the Chinese news agency Xinhua reports. Local radio broadcasts have become the "chief channels" for disseminating information on the virus and how to prevent transmission. But while 80% of Ethiopians "are convinced" that HIV can be prevented, 12% of the country's rural population are not yet aware of HIV/AIDS. Ethiopia is one of the countries "hardest hit" by the epidemic; more than three million people in the nation are believed to be HIV-positive (Xinhua, 1/17).