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30 years on and the British public still don't understand the basics of HIV

Friday, June 3, 2011
  • More people are living with HIV in the UK than ever before
  • The UK has no national strategy on HIV and are in breach of their UN commitment
  • A fifth of UK adults do not realise HIV is transmitted through sex without a condom between a man and woman

Sunday 5 June marks 30 years since the first cases of HIV and despite many successes in tackling the epidemic; more people than ever are living with HIV in the UK and a significant proportion of the British public still do not know the basic facts around HIV transmission.    
 
One in five people (20%) do not realise that HIV can be passed on through sex without a condom between a man and a woman and worryingly, knowledge of this fact has fallen by 11% in the last decade. In addition, one in ten people incorrectly believe HIV can be transmitted through impossible routes such as kissing (9%) and spitting (10%) and these figures have doubled since 2007 (from 4% and 5% respectively). 
 
Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of NAT (National AIDS Trust), comments:
 
30 years of HIV is a huge milestone and in this time there have been great strides in HIV treatment, testing and care. However, as these advances have meant HIV is now a manageable long-term condition and not a death sentence, HIV has largely fallen off the political and public agenda, and knowledge has declined. There are now huge gaps in public awareness and understanding of HIV and a significant proportion of the British public are unaware of the basics – such as using a condom – and cannot distinguish between the facts and the myths.'
 
The 30th anniversary of HIV and these worrying statistics come just days ahead of a UN meeting where 26 heads of state will meet in New York to discuss progress in tackling the epidemic. The UK, along with countries from around the world, have signed a UN Declaration of Commitment on HIV and AIDS which commits to having a national strategy for combating HIV which addresses stigma, discrimination, human rights, prevention, care, treatment and support. 
 
As there is currently no national strategy on HIV, the UK will be attending the UN meeting next week in breach of our international commitments and failing to meet best practice in addressing the epidemic.
 
NAT is calling on the Government to devise and implement a much needed national strategy for HIV so we can make progress in responding to the HIV epidemic in the UK. 
 
Deborah Jack, Chief Executive of NAT (National AIDS Trust), concludes:
 
‘It is unacceptable that in 2011 – 30 years after the first cases of HIV – the number of new HIV diagnoses is double what it was ten years ago, and people living with HIV still face stigma and discrimination. Without a national strategy to tackle these serious health and equality issues, HIV will continue to be silenced and sidelined in the UK. Strategic action will make the difference between progress and failure in the fight against HIV.’
 

- Ends -


Notes to the editor:

Statistics are taken from HIV…Public Knowledge and Attitudes 2011
Full copies of the report and data tables can be downloaded here.

The research was carried out using Ipsos MORI’s Omnibus survey.  The surveys were carried out using a nationally representative quota sample of adults (1,944), interviewed face-to-face, in-home, throughout Great Britain. Data were weighted to the known population profile of Great Britain each year.

For further information please contact:
Charli Scouller
Communications Manager
NAT
020 7814 6733
press@nat.org.uk

NAT
NAT (National AIDS Trust) is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to transforming society’s response to HIV. We provide fresh thinking, expert advice and practical resources. We campaign for change.
Shaping attitudes. Challenging injustice. Changing lives.
www.nat.org.uk