ArticleBMC public health2026
Public knowledge and attitudes towards HIV and people with HIV in Switzerland: results of a national survey.
Article in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundHIV-stigma impacts negatively on the quality of life of people with HIV (PWH) and can constitute a barrier to HIV prevention services, diagnosis and retention in care. Knowledge that HIV treated with effective antiretroviral therapy is a non-fatal chronic condition and awareness of the U = U (undetectable equals untransmittable) message can mediate stigmatising attitudes. We conducted a survey to assess public knowledge and attitudes regarding HIV and PWH in Switzerland.
methodsMembers of the public aged ≥ 18 years were randomly selected by a panel institute providing representative population surveys and quota sampling across demographic variables including gender, age, canton of residence and educational level. Participants were invited to complete a questionnaire with closed-ended questions via computer-assisted telephone and/or web interviews.
resultsA total of 1015 participants (50.7% women, 49.1% men, 0.2% diverse) completed the survey. While 76% stated they felt informed about HIV, misconceptions regarding HIV-acquisition risk were reported, including kissing (22%), insect bites (13%), and shared use of everyday objects (8%). Over half (55%) cited journalistic media as their source of HIV knowledge. Regarding the U = U message, 22% believed it to be true, 22% believed it to be untrue and 56% did not know. Awareness of U = U was higher in younger people and those with higher education. The majority had low (90%) or moderate (9%) HIV-stigma sum scores; higher scores were associated with lower education. In total, 12.6% had heard of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), of whom 54.7% identified the correct PrEP description.
conclusionsAlthough 76% of participants felt informed about HIV, only 22% agreed with the U = U message. Misconceptions regarding HIV acquisition risk were observed. High HIV-stigma scores were observed among a minority of participants and were associated with lower education. Tailored awareness campaigns could enhance HIV knowledge, disseminate the U = U message and address societal HIV-stigma.
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