Poor Knowledge of HIV in Finland

A survey by the market research company Taloustutkimus revealed large gaps in Finns' knowledge about HIV/AIDS. More than 60 percent of respondents thought intravenous drug use was the most common route of HIV transmission in Finland; in fact, 90 percent of infections are linked to sexual intercourse. Two-thirds of participants had never undergone voluntary HIV testing; women reported testing somewhat more frequently than men. The most common reason for not testing was considering oneself not at risk. So far this year, 164 new HIV cases have been recorded. More than 2,000 Finns have HIV, and authorities estimate an additional 1,000 people have the virus but have not been diagnosed. The survey, conducted in November, polled 1,064 people ages 30-39.

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