Many still ignorant about HIV

One in five UK adults are unaware that HIV can be passed between a man and a woman not using a condom, research suggests.

The same number do not know HIV can be spread between gay men having unprotected sex, and more than half (55 per cent) are unaware that sharing needles and syringes can transmit the disease.

An increasing proportion of adults incorrectly believe HIV can be transmitted by kissing and spitting – around one in 10 adults surveyed now believe this, compared to around five per cent in 2007.

The most recent poll, of almost 2,000 people for the National AIDS Trust (NAT), is included in a report on public attitudes and knowledge about HIV.

People were given a list of 11 possible routes of HIV transmission and asked to select those that applied to the disease.

Only 30 per cent of people could correctly identify all HIV transmission routes, while one in 12 adults (eight per cent) could not identify any sex without a condom – whether heterosexual or homosexual – as a route. When it came to knowledge and attitudes, 67 per cent of people said they had sympathy for those with HIV and 74 per cent believed they should have the same level of support and respect as people with cancer.

More than one in 10 (11 per cent) had no sympathy, rising to 30 per cent towards those infected with HIV through unprotected sex.

Despite 67 per cent of people saying they would be comfortable working with somebody who had HIV, 13 per cent said they would not – little change on the 11 per cent from five years ago.

Some 38 per cent said their employer should tell them if one of their colleagues was HIV positive, the survey found.

According to the NAT, there is no risk of HIV transmission in everyday work situations.

The survey also revealed that one in six people (17 per cent) do not know enough about how to prevent HIV transmission during sex and 11 per cent think those with HIV probably die within three years.

Almost half (47 per cent) believe there are no effective ways of preventing a pregnant woman with HIV passing the disease to her baby.

Evidence shows a woman with HIV has a 99 per cent chance of going on to have a healthy baby if steps are taken. Of those surveyed, 19 per cent said if a family member was HIV positive, it would damage their relationship with them.

Deborah Jack, chief executive officer of the NAT, said: “As the number of people with HIV in the UK approaches 100,000, it is crucial for everyone to understand the facts around how HIV is passed on, so they can protect themselves and others.

“While HIV disproportionately affects gay men and Africans,the number of people with HIV who are not in these groups is steadily rising, and unfortunately there does still remain a serious amount of confusion around HIV transmission.

“Many people are unaware of the basics, such as using a condom to protect themselves, while myths such as transmission from kissing and spitting are still perpetuated.”