SINGAPORE, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- A new survey found that young Singaporeans aged 18 to 29 know the least about how to prevent AIDS.

    Local daily The Straits Times reported on Friday, they ranked lowest among the age groups, with just three quarters knowing at least two ways that the AIDS virus could be prevented, compared with more than 80 percent for the other age groups.

    Those in the 30 to 49 group were best informed, according to the first survey of its kind conducted by the Health Promotion Board (HPB), which oversees HIV prevention programs in Singapore.

    It polled 1,800 people aged 18 to 69.

    The survey also found that only one in two of the population knew that consistent condom use would prevent AIDS, though at least three quarters were aware that abstinence and faithfulness to one's partner were other measures, the newspaper reported.

    In addition, there has been a spike in sexually transmitted infections among the young.

    The Board said it would have new programs targeted at the younger crowd.