40 years with HIV in the Czech Republic - what do people think?
Today, nearly half a century since the first confirmed cases in the US, the situation has changed dramatically. Medicine has made enormous progress. Thanks to modern treatments, the outlook for patients has improved and organisations supporting people living with HIV are actively fighting for their rights and spreading awareness in society. This year marks 40 years since the first confirmed diagnosis of HIV in the Czech Republic, so we were interested in how people perceive HIV today and what they know about its transmission and treatment. Ipsos Healthcare conducted a large-scale survey for Gilead Sciences on a representative sample of 1,000 people aged 18-65 across all regions of the Czech Republic and all social groups. The findings revealed key trends in awareness, perceptions of risk and attitudes towards people living with HIV.
Awareness of HIV/AIDS
The survey found that 63% of respondents believed that they were fairly well informed about HIV. This percentage is comparable to awareness of other diseases such as diabetes, cancer and high blood pressure.
The best informed group are those aged 45-54 and those with a university or higher vocational education. The Internet and the media, such as television, newspapers and radio, are the most common sources of information about HIV/AIDS, while people often get positive information from educational institutions or health facilities. Interestingly, although 95% of the respondents declared that they had at least heard of HIV, 45% did not recall having any information about the disease in the last six months. This unfortunately suggests that HIV is not discussed enough in Czech society to be given sufficient attention by the media and the education system.
Advances in HIV treatment
Although almost 90% of respondents immediately think of a dangerous or life-threatening disease when they hear the words "HIV" or "AIDS", about half of the population believes that significant progress in treatment has been made in the last decade.
Thanks to the modern antiretroviral treatment available today, 61% of Czechs consider HIV/AIDS to be a manageable chronic disease. For three-quarters of respondents, an HIV diagnosis is not a reason that should restrict people living with HIV in their normal working life and they can therefore work in their usual jobs.
This is a positive shift in the perception of a society that is gradually shedding stigma and accepting scientific knowledge about treatment and prevention.
Awareness of HIV transmission
Although most respondents correctly reported that unprotected sex and syringe sharing are the main modes of HIV transmission (92 and 95% of respondents respectively), some misconceptions still persist.
As many as 86% of respondents believe that there is a risk of transmission even when having unprotected sex with an HIV-positive person who is successfully treated and has an undetectable viral load. However, expert studies refute this - a successfully treated person with an undetectable viral load cannot transmit the virus to his or her partner sexually. Half of respondents mistakenly believe that HIV can be transmitted by kissing, and nearly a quarter worry about contracting it by sharing everyday objects such as glasses, cutlery or toiletries. However, these perceptions are completely incorrect. Although the issue of HIV/AIDS has been resonating in society for almost 50 years, many people still follow myths from the beginning of the epidemic.
Substantial confusion also remains about mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Half of the respondents said they did not know whether an HIV-positive mother can give birth to a healthy child. Only 40% correctly answered that a successfully treated mother with an undetectable viral load can give birth to a child who will not be HIV positive. The fact that approximately 60% of respondents were unable to answer this question correctly shows the continuing lack of information on advances in the treatment and prevention of HIV transmission.
What can we take away from this?
The number of people living with HIV in the Czech Republic is increasing every year - new cases are being diagnosed, and thanks to modern methods, patients' life expectancy is increasing. HIV is still a part of our society, so it is crucial that the public has the most accurate and up-to-date information.
The survey showed that although the public is aware of advances in medicine, many people still believe outdated myths about HIV transmission. Misinformation continues to spread and prejudices persist. It is therefore essential to continue to raise awareness, promote testing and actively fight stigma so that people living with HIV can live full lives without barriers.
This article was produced with the support of Gilead Sciences Ltd.
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