Today Russians are more tolerant towards HIV-infected individuals than before.

MOSCOW, November 30, 2018. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a survey devoted to the World AIDS Day.

Almost every Russian adult has heard of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV and AIDS (97% based on the 2018 survey findings). Thirty-one percent say they are well aware of the disease.

Russians have become much more tolerant towards the situations implying interactions with the HIV-infected individuals. The survey findings suggest that living next door to a HIV-positive person is perceived as the most tolerable situation: today 65% of respondents say that there is nothing bad about that (vs 38% in 2005).  The share of those who think that there is nothing wrong with taking care of the HIV-positive individuals has increased from 29% in 2005 to 57% in 2018. Every second Russian (50%) does not see any problem in working with HIV-positive persons (an increase from 33% in 2005).

Despite a 28-point decrease since 2005, half of Russians (49%) are confident that it is totally unacceptable to use the utensils used by an infected person. A further 45% are negative about buying something from the HIV-infected vendors.  As to keeping the child in the same class as a HIV- infected child, Russians are divided in their opinions: 32% would agree, though reluctantly, and 26% would never accept it.

According to half of respondents (53%) the share of HIV-positive people is within 1-10% in Russia; 24% point to a range from 1% to 5%; 22%, from 6% to 10%. Almost one-third of Russians (29%) consider that this share does not exceed 10%. Only 7% think the number of HIV-positive people is less than 1% which conforms to the latest official data.

An overwhelming majority (88%) says the HIV transmission is one of the major problems for the modern Russia. At the same time, Russians are more tolerant towards the HIV-positive people today: 89% think that such people need additional assistance; only 5% think they need to be isolated from others; 2% say they need to be left alone.

VCIOM survey was conducted on November 28, 2018. The survey involved 1,600 Russians aged 18 and over. The survey was telephone-based and was carried out using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

The 2004-2009 results are based on household surveys.

Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!