One in five straight Brits believe they can't get HIV - here are the facts

05 February 2024 , 15:11

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The HIV test is said to be easy to use at home and available at Tesco (Image: Unsplash)

One in five straight Brits believe they can't get HIV - but they're hugely mistaken. And here are the facts:

‌Figures show heterosexuals now account for almost half of all new cases. according to government statistics. They show 73% of straight Brits have never tested for HIV even though 40% of all new cases are for heterosexual people. Despite the increase straight people are unaware of their increased risk of infection, with more than 1,000,000 believing they cannot contract the virus.

‌As HIV Testing Week, Newfoundland Diagnostics wants the nation to get tested and has introduced a new test, which is easy to use at home and available at Tesco. The study explored the attitudes, behaviours and perceptions of HIV in the UK, highlighting a need for better education and awareness around the virus, with more than a fifth of straight British people (21%) believing they are unlikely to contract HIV, leading them not to test for HIV.

1 in 5 (22%) of straight Brits still believe they are unlikely to contract the virus (Unsplash)

The study explored the attitudes, behaviours and perceptions of HIV in the UK, highlighting a need for better education and awareness around the virus, with more than a fifth of straight British people (21%) believing they are unlikely to contract HIV, leading them not to test for HIV.

Other reasons for heterosexual people not testing include never having unprotected sex (18%), not having access to an HIV test (4%) and not being bothered to test for the virus (3%). This lack of education has seen a staggering 73% of heterosexual Brits having never tested for the virus, ironically echoing the infamous ‘Don’t Die of Ignorance’. tombstone ads of the 80s . The research showed a hangover of the AIDS epidemic despite advances made by popular media such as Channel 4’s ‘It’s A Sin’, which led to a sharp increase in HIV-related Google searches including ‘Can women get AIDS?’ (2,150%) after the first episode’s airing.

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‌Despite media attempts to change perceptions around HIV, researchers say more educational work to be done to improve the nation’s testing habits and routines. Testing figures for HIV remain staggeringly low despite HIV rates rising and just one in 11 (9%) have been tested multiple times for HIV.

(Newfoundland Diagnostics)

Researchers hope to change attitudes towards testing, raise awareness of the education issue and providing access to tests to help the nation know their status. Frederick Manduca, co-founder of Newfoundland Diagnostics, said: "Whilst testing does seem to be increasing in the long-term, these findings reveal there remains a substantial amount of ignorance towards testing and its importance amongst heterosexual people.

"Our aim is to use our platform to begin chipping away at the misconceptions surrounding HIV, making it clear that HIV does not discriminate based on sex, gender or sexuality, and that there is power in knowing your status. Let’s use this year’s HIV Testing Week to continue changing perceptions, raising awareness and fighting stigma to eradicate this virus from existence.”

‌The Newfoundland Diagnostics HIV Test costs £17.99 for one test and is available from the organisation or from Tesco stores across the nation.

Graeme Murray