HIV stigma ‘rife in UK’

As HIV rates rise in the UK there is still a worrying degree of stigma and prejudice against people with the virus, a new survey has revealed.

The poll by Ipsos Mori, conducted on behalf of the Red Cross, found that one in seven young British people would not be willing to remain friends with someone who has HIV.

And almost half said they would want to keep it a secret if a member of their family was living with HIV.

Despite the prevalence of the virus, just under a third of the 14- to 25-year-olds questioned said they were worried about contracting it.

The Red Cross released the findings as it launched a new campaign to raise young people’s and adults’ awareness of HIV via digital media and social networking sites such as Facebook.

Alyson Lewis, HIV advisor at the British Red Cross, said: “The stigma and secrecy attached to HIV is having a direct impact on young people’s ability worldwide to access information and talk openly about their fears and concerns about the spread of this devastating pandemic.

“Many young people view HIV as a shameful secret, and we need to ensure that we demystify these fears and help young people to be more aware of the risks and how to protect themselves.”

Last week the Health Protection Agency said there are now about 73,000 adults living with HIV in the UK, almost a third of which are unaware they carry the virus.