Shocking numbers of Americans still think one has to be “careful” around people living with HIV.
The level of perceived and actual stigma around HIV remains high, while public knowledge about it remains low, even though there are effective treatments and reliable means of preventing transmission.
Those are among the findings of GLAAD’s State of HIV Stigma Study, released Monday.
Nearly 90 percent of those surveyed said they believe “there is still stigma around HIV,” and a similar percentage agreed that “people are quick to judge those with HIV.”
There’s good reason to believe that. Nearly six in 10 respondents agreed that “it is important to be careful around people living with HIV to avoid catching it.” The percentages were similar for LGBTQ and non-LGBTQ participants. This comes even though HIV has never been spread through casual contact, and even though condoms, clean needles for injection drugs, pre-exposure prophylaxis, and treatment as prevention are all reliable means of preventing transmission. Treatment as prevention means that people with HIV who have suppressed their viral level to the point that it is undetectable have effectively no chance of transmitting the virus through sex.
Only 35 percent of those surveyed agreed that people living with HIV “shouldn’t have to tell others.” And about half were uncomfortable with having an HIV-positive spouse, doctor, or other person in close contact with them. LGBTQ people were more comfortable with people living with HIV than non-LGBTQ people in every scenario.