More than third of people would 'swipe left' and reject someone with HIV but on effective treatment

In a recent YouGov study, over a third of people interviewed said that they'd 'swipe left' to reject someone with HIV, even if they're on effective treatment.

More than three in ten implied they would 'swipe right', or say yes to someone with HIV getting treatment, while a further third were 'unsure' of how they'd respond.

The YouGov research, which was conducted to examine people's attitudes towards sex, relationships and HIV, reveals a shocking level of stigma is still attached to HIV suffers, as well as a severe lack of understanding about how the disease is passed from person to person.

When presented with the statement 'I'd feel comfortable kissing someone with HIV', a shocking 43 per cent of people disagreed. This is despite the fact that regardless of whether the person is receiving treatment, the virus can't be passed on by kissing.

When asked about condom less sex, only 10 per cent of respondents said that they'd be comfortable having unprotected sex with a carrier, despite the fact the disease cannot be passed on if a sufferer is taking the correct medication.

A third question revealed the levels of bigotry in the general population when it comes to whether HIV can be passed on from someone having effective treatment. When given the statement ‘people on effective HIV treatment can’t pass the virus on’, a huge 55 per cent of respondents said it was false.

In one study, scientists monitored the rate of transmission of the disease between an HIV positive person taking effective medication and their HIV negative partner. In a sample of 58,000 people, the disease wasn't passed on once.

Ian Green, Chief Executive at Terrence Higgins Trust, said:

It’s so important to get this message out to as many people as possible.

We hear on a near daily basis how out of date beliefs about how HIV is passed on are negatively affecting the lives and mental health of people HIV, and it urgently needs to change.

Find out more about HIV transmission at the Terrence Higgins Trust

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