8 out of 10 French people consider themselves well informed, but lack of knowledge persists, according to a survey

Nearly 8 out of 10 French people say they are well informed about HIV and AIDS, according to a survey carried out by the Toluna-Harris Interactive institute for Crips Île-de-France. This level of information has remained stable for two years. It is higher among people aged 65 and over (82%) than among the youngest (74% of 15-24 year olds). If 17% of respondents consider themselves very informed on the subject, the fact remains that 20% say they are fairly poorly or very poorly informed about HIV and AIDS.

The survey, however, warns of a “fragility of the level of information” who “verifies the facts when the French are questioned about their knowledge of prevention and screening”. In fact, almost two thirds of French people (64%) think that the condom is the only prevention against HIV. This belief is more common among those aged 65 and over (76%) than among those aged 15-24 (45%). One in two French people (45%) are unaware, for example, that there is preventive treatment to avoid being contaminated by HIV for HIV-negative people. 53% of respondents do not know that an HIV-positive person who follows their treatment correctly does not transmit HIV.

Middle school students not sufficiently aware

HIV testing seems to be an aspect that is still unknown to some French people. Thus, 39% of respondents admit that they are unaware that screening is free in all medical analysis laboratories and 41% that it does not require a prescription. Furthermore, the life expectancy of a person, even if recently tested positive for HIV and under treatment, is still largely underestimated. Only a minority of French people (39%) believe that people carrying HIV live as long as the average French person. 57% of those aged 65 and over and 71% of those aged 15-24 consider that the life expectancy of a person carrying HIV is lower than the rest of the French population.

This level of information “very relative” is explained by “a prevention deficit in schools”, warn the people questioned in this survey. 43% of parents of middle or high school students believe that their children are not sufficiently aware of HIV prevention in their school. However, 46% of French people plead for the priority action lever to be the strengthening of prevention in schools and 20% for an increase in the number of communication and prevention campaigns in the media.

The French also want to talk more about health related to their sexuality with health professionals. Most respondents even consider that it is the role of a gynecologist (93%) and a GP (93%) to talk about this subject with their patients. 68% would like healthcare professionals to ask them routine questions about their sexual health during their medical appointments. But the survey reveals a gap between wish and practice. In fact, only a third of French people (33%) say they talk about this subject with their GP. 52% of women rarely or never talk about health related to their sexuality with their gynecologist.

Methodology :
The survey called “The French and the fight against HIV” was carried out online from October 13 to 17, 2023 with a sample of 1,050 people, representative of the French population aged 15 and over.