Although the French consider themselves well informed about HIV, marking an encouraging progression in awareness, HIV continues to frighten 82% of them.
Risky behaviors still present
According to a Harris Interactive survey conducted in France for Gilead Sciences, a company committed to the fight against HIV, risky behaviors persist. Among those surveyed who said they had had a new sexual partner, a majority (53%) said they did not use protection; that is, 4 points more than in 2020.
How can we explain this figure?
45% of those concerned indicate that they did not use protection because they trust their sexual partner, a figure that even rises to 61% among those aged 50 and over. The other reasons given are comfort at 30% or for 28% the fact that they did not have a condom on them.
“Every day, I receive people who learn that they are HIV-positive after having trusted a new partner. We cannot be satisfied that young people do not protect themselves, or worse, that they do not know about certain measures put in place by the authorities, such as free condoms for those under 26. Only 48% of 15-24 year-olds know about it, when 90% should be!” warns Professor Gilles Pialoux, Head of the Infectious Diseases Department at Tenon Hospital in Paris.
Screening, a reflex not acquired by everyone
32% of French people say they have not systematically had recourse to screening in the event of unprotected sexual intercourse with a new partner. A figure which even rises to 44% among 15-34 year-olds.
“It has never been easier to get tested for HIV. The study showed that 12% of French people do not get tested for fear of the result: this puts themselves and others at risk. Today, 24,000 people are unaware of their HIV status, yet it is important to know in order to start treatment as early as possible and thus reduce the viral load until the virus is undetectable and therefore untransmissible,” says Professor Gilles Pialoux.
A person living with HIV who is on treatment and who complies with their treatment no longer transmits the virus
Although there is still no treatment today that can cure HIV infection, it is possible to control it. Indeed, treatments now allow HIV-positive people to achieve a so-called “undetectable” viral load. This means that a person living with HIV who is on treatment and who complies with their treatment and medical monitoring no longer transmits the virus, including during unprotected sexual intercourse. This is what is known as the concept of TasP “Treatment as Prevention” and “Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U)”.
- However, 87% of French people believe that it is possible to be contaminated by the virus after unprotected vaginal sex with a person carrying the virus who is undergoing treatment.
- Furthermore, for 71% of 35-49 year olds, HIV is seen as a disease from which people die today.
HIV in numbers
Today in France, it is estimated that 200,000 people are living with HIV, of which it is estimated that around 24,000 people are unaware of their HIV status. New infections are estimated at nearly 5,000 per year. The HIV epidemic has changed face: among the 5,000 new infections per year, 31% are women, 54% are people declaring themselves heterosexual.
