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On March 24, 25 and 26, Sidaction will take its place among the 35 partner media to, once again, advance information, awareness and research around AIDS. A necessity it seems: in a last survey, the ignorance of the youngest about HIV and its transmission still appears to be topical.
“We have never been closer to enjoying an AIDS-free future”. This is the optimistic mantra of the next Sidaction campaign which will appear on our screens on March 23, 24 and 25 next weekend). A way of saying that things are moving forward and that by multiplying our efforts, future generations may no longer have to worry about this deadly virus. It is still necessary to continue the recommendations, the sensitization on the transmission of the HIV, and not to forget that the disease always runs.
Medical advances but declining screening
Thus, 40 years after the discovery of the AIDS virus, the reality of infected people has changed. The improvement in daily treatments since 1996 and, more recently, therapeutic relief have given great hope to people living with HIV, researchers and medical personnel.
“Today, an HIV-positive person on effective treatment no longer transmits the virus.” draws up the Sidaction press release.
However, the fight is not yet won: in 2021, due to a lack of early access to screening or regular treatment, more than 600,000 people will still die of AIDS worldwide. In France, of the 5,000 people who discovered their seropositivity during the year, 29% were at the AIDS or very advanced stage of the infection. And the number of screening tests is still struggling to catch up with the delay taken in 2020, during the Covid-19 crisis, where activity had fallen by 13% compared to 2019. Screening nevertheless remains crucial in terms of the fight against HIV, both to ensure the health of those infected and to control the epidemic. It is therefore necessary to encourage it, again and again, in order to be able to enjoy a future without AIDS. Latest figures show 38.4 million people believed to be living with the virus, including 5.9 million without knowing it. And just as many reasons to continue research, especially towards a vaccine.
15-24 year olds remain poorly informed about HIV
The other piece of information in this edition is an Ifop survey on young people, HIV information and prevention, which shows us that received ideas circulate again and again among adolescents and young adults.
Thus, in 2023, one in four young people surveyed believe they are poorly informed about HIV/AIDS, an alarming increase of 22 points compared to 2009. With regard to risk-taking, only 28% of respondents say they have used at least once a screening test in the year, 43% are unaware of the existence of emergency treatment if a risk has been taken in the face of HIV, and 65% of them do not even know where to go get screened.
But the prevailing ideas that persist are probably the most striking information from this generation that is hyper-connected and yet far from reality:
- 23% believe that taking the morning after pill is effective in preventing HIV transmission (compared to 10% in 2015);
- 18% are convinced that taking a paracetamol tablet prevents the transmission of the virus;
- 37% of 15-24 year olds think they are less likely than others to be infected with the AIDS virus (+8 points compared to 2022);
- 17%, however, believe that contamination is possible by kissing an HIV-positive person.
Shortcomings not so surprising, when we know that two thirds of young people say they have never benefited from the 3 annual sessions of sexuality education during their schooling, whereas the law imposes it since 2001.