Young people in the United Kingdom generally have a good idea of how HIV is transmitted, but many have ‘stigmatising’ attitudes towards the illness, according to the results of an opinion poll commissioned by the British Red Cross in advance of World AIDS Day on December 1st.
The survey also showed that most 14 – 25 year olds in the UK weren’t particularly worried about the risk of HIV infection.
Young people in South Africa, Kyrgyzstan and Ethiopia were also asked about their attitudes to the infection. The Red Cross hope that the survey will provoke discussion about HIV amongst young people in the UK.
A total of 300 young people in each of the four countries were asked ten questions to establish their awareness of HIV, the extent to which they stigmatised the infection, and if they considered HIV to be an issue for them.
Overall the results reflected the seriousness of the local HIV epidemic and extent of HIV education campaigns.
In both the UK and South Africa all the young people surveyed had heard of the infection, as had 98% of those in Ethiopia and 92% of those in Kyrgyzstan.
Only 5% of 14 – 25 year olds in the UK thought that there was a cure or HIV. In South Africa, 10% thought there was a cure as did a quarter of young people in Kyrgyzstan and Ethiopia.
Unprotected sex was recognised as an HIV risk activity by 99% of the survey sample in the UK and 98% of those in South Africa and Ethiopia. Generally, young people in Kyrgyzstan had a poorer understanding of how HIV was transmitted with only 87% understanding the potential risk of unprotected sex, and 84% the risks that can be involved from sharing needles.
Few young people believed that HIV could be transmitted by social contact, although 11% of youngsters in Kyrgyzstan, along with 6% of those in Ethiopia and South Africa and 3% of those in the UK thought the infection could be contracted if a meal was shared with an HIV-positive individual.
The majority of 14 – 25 year olds in all four countries believed a person with HIV could appear fit and well.
Stigmatising attitudes varied between countries. Young people in the UK were most likely (84%) to say that they would remain friends with somebody with HIV, followed by South Africa (81% ) and Ethiopia (77%). But fewer than half of those surveyed in Kyrgyzstan said they’d remain friends with a person with HIV.
A willingness to care for a family member with HIV was expressed by 90% of those in South Africa and Ethiopia, 80% of the UK sample, but only 70% of the youngsters in Kyrgyzstan, with almost 80% in the UK indicating that they would be unwilling to buy food from an HIV-positive shop-keeper.
Adolescents in the UK showed a high level of stigma towards healthcare providers with over two-thirds (68%) saying they would refuse treatment from an HIV-positive doctor.
It was evident that HIV infection is a source of shame, with most children in all countries except Ethiopia saying that they’d want it kept a secret if a family member had HIV.
A third of young people in the UK worried a great deal or a fair amount about HIV. However in South Africa, which has a much higher HIV prevalence, 83% expressed concern about HIV.
Surprisingly, young people in the UK appeared the least likely to have received information about how to prevent HIV infection (57% vs. 93% South Africa, 97% Kyrgyzstan and 95% Ethiopia).
Access to condoms and attitudes towards their use varied. Over 40% in the UK (47%) and South Africa (44%) reported easy and affordable condom access, with 56% in both these countries saying they’d use a condom if having sex. A third of young people in Kyrgyzstan said they’d use a condom, and only 23% of those in Ethiopia said they use a condom for sex.
The survey is has been reported on a number of outlets, including the BBC to suggest ignorance and complacency about HIV amongst the young in the UK. But it is difficult to draw any real conclusions from such a small study that did not ask crucial questions, such as an individual’s sexual orientation or ethnicity.
Although the survey did show that some young people have stigmatising attitudes towards HIV it did not enquire if they had also held these attitudes for other serious illnesses.
The results of the full survey can be read here