China AIDS Survey Finds High Levels of Ignorance, Stigma

UNAIDS on Friday released results of a survey of mostly young Chinese showing that many do not understand how HIV is transmitted, while stigma against those with the disease remains widespread.

Among 6,000 people surveyed in six cities, more than 48 percent believed HIV can be transmitted by mosquitoes, and 83 percent had never sought information about the disease. About 65 percent would be unwilling to live with an HIV-positive person; 48 percent would not eat with someone who was HIV-infected; and 41 percent would not work with a person who had HIV, the report said. About 32 percent agreed that people with HIV/AIDS "deserved their disease because of their sexual behavior or drug abuse."

Of the 11 percent who said they had had sex with someone who was not their regular partner in the previous six months, 42 percent had not used condoms.

Just 19 percent thought they would use condoms with a new sex partner, and 30 percent did not know how to use a condom. However, 88 percent believed they were not at risk for HIV.

"We see that there are still many misconceptions around AIDS in the population, which contribute to stigma and discrimination," said Bernhard Schwartlaender, UNAIDS' China coordinator. "But there are also worrying contradictions between knowledge and behavior. Though people know that HIV can be transmitted through unprotected sex, many still do not protect themselves with a condom when engaging in risk behavior."

HIV reports in China rose about 22 percent last year, according to the health ministry. About 45 percent of new cases were acquired heterosexually, and unprotected sex remains the "main mode for the spread of HIV," it said.

The survey was conducted in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Wuhan, Zhengzhou and Kunming.

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