Public Perceptions of HIV

Twenty-five years after the beginning of the HIV epidemic in the UK, knowledge about HIV is still worryingly low among the general public. A National AIDS Trust survey in 2007 of people’s attitudes to and understanding of HIV reveals serious gaps in knowledge of HIV.

The survey conducted by Ipsos-MORI found:

Over 90 per cent of the British public do not fully understand how HIV is transmitted
Significantly fewer people in 2007 are able to identify each of the correct ways in which HIV is transmitted than did so in 2000
Scotland and London are among the least knowledgeable about HIV

Ignorance about HIV increases vulnerability to infection and also contributes to stigma and discrimination.

Read the full report of Public Attitudes towards HIV 2007 here.

Full results charts and reliability information is available here.

A similar survey was also carried out in 2005. For those results see Public Attitudes Towards HIV 2005 here.

Educating people about HIV

The National AIDS Trust works to educate people about HIV and challenges discriminatory attitudes among the public and groups such as healthcare workers and employers. We do this by producing resources for many different audiences that give the facts about HIV, making information about HIV available online, working with the media and through initiatives like World AIDS Day.

In particular we are working to educate young people about HIV, so that the next generation can safeguard their own sexual health and help to break down the stigma and discrimination around HIV. The National AIDS Trust is part of the Sex Education Forum, which is campaigning to make sex and relationships education a compulsory part of the school curriculum. More information and resources available on our Education webpage. We have also produced an HIV in Schools pack that gives teachers resources to help integrate HIV into the national curriculum for key stages three and four across a range of subjects. Download the pack here.

Working with the media

The power of the media to communicate news and information, to influence opinions and raise awareness, means that it can be a very valuable tool in the fight against HIV. However inaccurate stories can perpetuate myths and create confusion and misunderstanding. Accurate media coverage is therefore vital in terms of tackling the discrimination experienced by people living with HIV and helping to prevent the spread of the virus. The National AIDS Trust works with the media in the UK to gain accurate and positive coverage of HIV wherever possible. We also work in partnership with people living with HIV to challenge the media whenever its coverage of HIV is inaccurate or stigmatising. The National AIDS Trust has produced Guidelines for reporting HIV for journalists to ensure their reporting is accurate and non-stigmatising. Download this resource here.

For more information on HIV and the Media visit our Media webpage.

World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV. The UK theme for World AIDS Day 2007 is UNDERSTANDING THROUGH COMMUNICATION. The intention of the theme is to highlight the importance of using open communication to break down the silence around HIV, and to get people talking about HIV in order to increase their own understanding and the knowledge of those around them.

The National AIDS Trust develops and manages the UK's website for World AIDS Day, www.worldaidsday.org, which gives people the opportunity to find out more about the realities of HIV in the UK and participate by taking part in an event, raising money or educating others. For further information visit www.worldaidsday.org.

The National AIDS Trust relies on donations, which enable us to carry out this important work. Find out how you can support us.