In a nine-country survey released on Tuesday, more than 40% of respondents did not understand that HIV/Aids is always fatal.
The survey from the MAC Aids Fund, a philanthropy set up by Estée Lauder-owned MAC cosmetics, involved 4 510 interviews conducted in the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, France, China, India, Mexico, Brazil and South Africa. The release of the findings comes in advance of World Aids Day on December 1.
”The strength of the survey lies in its exclusive focus on issues related to Aids, its span of nine countries and the fact that it poses frank, specific questions at a time when we need frank, specific answers to increase the effectiveness of our global response to the epidemic,” said Nancy Mahon, executive director of the MAC Aids Fund.
While most respondents believed that Aids is always fatal, many wrongly believed that a cure for HIV infection is available. For instance, 59% of Indian respondents believed that a cure is available. In France, older adults were more likely than younger people to believe that the disease is curable. In the US, African-Americans were more likely than white respondents to think there is a cure.
”From my perspective, the most important general finding is that we have not done a good enough job educating people about HIV — the facts and reality,” said Dr Marsha Martin, director for HIV/Aids programmes in the Oakland, California mayor’s office.
”When people believe the disease is not fatal and that there is a cure, that’s because we haven’t educated them well,” Martin said.
Many people also harbor misconceptions about the availability of HIV/Aids treatments, according to the survey. Almost 50% of respondents believed that most HIV-infected patients were receiving treatment, when in reality the figure is closer to one in five, based on 2006 data.
However, education seems to help: in the UK, people with a higher education were more likely than those lacking a college degree to believe that most people with HIV go untreated.
The findings also highlight the prejudice, fear, and stigma that surround HIV/Aids. Overall, almost half of respondents said they felt uncomfortable walking next to an HIV-infected person, 52% did not want to live in the same house, and 79% did not want to date someone who was living with the virus.
”The most important message for those who are providing services is that they have to serve as role models in their interactions with individuals who are at risk or who are living with HIV. That would go a long way to reducing stigma in society,” said Dr Geeta Rao Gupta, president of the International Centre for Research on Women.
Gender roles and difficulty in discussing safe sex practices are key contributors to the pandemic, the survey indicates. For instance, 73% of respondents believe that the spread of HIV is fuelled, in part, by women being uncomfortable in discussing safe sex practices with their partners.
”The results of this survey coupled with the recent failure of the most promising Aids vaccine trial underscore that we are not going to vaccinate or cure our way out of this epidemic,” Mahon emphasised.
”All of us, particularly in the funding community, need to redouble our efforts and resources and focus on basic and effective HIV prevention programmes that address gender, age and race differences in a direct and culturally competent way,” Mahon added. – Reuters