Survey Ifop – Young people, information and prevention of HIV. Misconceptions and misinformation persist
(Paris, 21 mars 2023), A few days before the Sidaction 202 weekend3 (2425 et 26 next March), the association publishes the results of a survey carried out each year by Ifop among 15-24 year olds1. If the effects of the health crisis on young people’s feeling of information fade away, received ideas about HIV/AIDS are becoming entrenched and do not disappear. Faced with this observation, Sidaction calls for the intensification of awareness campaigns and the effective application of the 3 sessions annual compulsory education to sexuality at school.
In 2023, a young on four questioned feels misinformed about HIV/AIDSan alarming increase of 22 points compared to 2009. « The results of this survey still worry as much. Even if we note an improvement in the feeling of information among young people and return to a situation pre-pandemicsome figures remain alarming. NWe need to step up awareness and prevention efforts with this age group in order to than the young have the information they need for a sexual and emotional life blooming and without risk » observes Florence Thune, Managing Director of Sidaction.
For example, only 28% of respondents say they have used a screening test at least once in the year. A figure that is still too low, although up by 8 points compared to 2022. 43% of 15-24 year olds ignore the existence of emergency treatment if a risk was caught in the face of HIV. « Et 65% of them they do not know where to go to get tested. It remains of graves gaps to be filled. » continues Florence Thune.
As for received ideas and false information related to HIV/AIDS, they persist among young people: 23% believe that taking the pill the next day is effective in preventing the transmission of HIV (against 10% in 2015) et 18% are convinced that taking a paracetamol tablet prevents the transmission of virus.
“Even if an HIV-positive person on treatment no longer transmits HIV, a message often hammered home by associations fighting against AIDS, young people still think that the AIDS virus can be transmitted by having sex with an HIV-positive person on treatment. (53%) or by kissing an HIV-positive person (17%). Awareness on this subject must be intensified in order to combat the discrimination suffered by people living with HIV” analyse Florence Thune.
On the other hand, the trivialization of the question of HIV/AIDS is confirmed. 37% of 15-24 year olds think they are less likely than others to be infecteds par le virus you page (+8 points compared to 2022): « 43% believe that contamination is decreasing among youth whereas in France, of the 5,000 people discovering their HIV status each year, 15% are under 25 years old. These figures are worrying at a time whenu the reality on the ground proves us otherwise » observe Frédéric DabiDirector General of the FIFG.
« Awareness and prevention in terms of sexual health doivent start in school and relayed by public health campaigns on a national level » concludes Florence Thune. According to the survey, two-thirds of the youth claim never to have benefited of the 3 sessions annual sex education during their schooling, although the law has required it since 2001.
To fight against HIV/AIDS and to raise awareness among young people, an intensification of prevention in educational structures constitutes a central lever for action. He is notably it is urgent that received ideas about the transmission of the AIDS virus be combated in order to face up to the discrimination that people living with HIV are subjected to on a daily basis.
The numbers to remember
23% of young people surveyed believe they are poorly informed about HIV/AIDS, an alarming increase of 22 points compared to 2009.
Less than 1 in 2 young people feels well informed about where to go for HIV/AIDS testing.
32 % consider that there are drugs to cure AIDS (+5 points compared to 2022).
23% still believe that the emergency contraceptive pill can prevent the transmission of viruses is a worrying increase in 4 points in one year.
Between 12 and 17% of people surveyed believe that you can contract HIV by coming into contact with the perspiration of an HIV-positive person, by drinking from their glass, by shaking their hand or by kissing them.
43 % believe that there are fewer and fewer contaminations among young people.
67% of 15-24 year olds say they have not benefited from 3 courses per year in education for affective and sexual life.
84% that the number of sexuality education courses in school is not sufficient today75 % would have liked to be better informed and supported at the start of their emotional and sexual life.
To support Sidaction :
By telephone : by calling 110 (freephone number)
By mail : Sidaction – 228, rue du Faubourg Saint-Martin 75010 PARIS
By text message : to make a small donation of €5, send the word “DON” to 92 110 (free SMS sending cost or included in SMS packages)