Eleven percent of Russians know someone who is HIV-positive. Ninety-two percent consider that the HIV epidemic is one of Russia’s major problems.
MOSCOW, December 1, 2017. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data of a survey devoted to World AIDS Day.
Most of Russians who heard of this disease know how HIV is transmitted: through sexual contact (98%), injections, blood transfusion (98%), and damaged skin (90%). Misconceptions about getting HIV by handshake (4%), water or food (9%), or through the air (11%) are rare.Almost any adult living in Russia has heard about the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or AIDS (96% in 2017); 53% of them consider that there is a difference between HIV and AIDS (25% in 2008); 38% see no difference.
According to half of Russians who heard of HIV/AIDS, the share of HIV-positive Russians fluctuates between 1-10%: 28% point to 1 - 5%; 21% mention up to 10%. One-third of respondents (32%) think that this share exceeds 10%. Those respondents who know someone who is HIV-positive point to higher percentages. Only 5% say that the share is less than 1% which corresponds to the latest statistical data.
Small number of Russians thinks that their friends or relatives can get HIV (48% say it is “unlikely possible”; 15% - “absolutely impossible”). At the same time, 34% think it is possible.
An overwhelming majority of Russians (92%) who are aware of HIV/AIDS consider that preventing the spread of HIV is one of Russia’s top problems today. At the same time, Russians are generally tolerant towards people with AIDS diagnosis: 92% who heard of this disease think that people should help patients with AIDS; only 4% propose social isolation, and 2% think they should be left alone.
The VCIOM-Sputnik Russian nationwide survey was conducted on November 28-29, 2017. The survey involved 1,200 Russians aged 18 and over, 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 3.5%. 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.
Have you ever heard of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or a disease called AIDS? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||
| 2004 | 2005 | 2017 |
Yes, I know a lot about that | 47 | 70 | 37 |
I heard something | 49 | 29 | 59 |
I do not know anything about that | 3 | 1 | 4 |
Don’t know | 1 | 0 | 0 |
In your opinion, is there any difference between HIV and AIDS? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who have heard of/knows about HIV/AIDS) | |||
| 2008 | 2009 | 2017 |
Yes | 25 | 27 | 53 |
No | 41 | 42 | 38 |
Don’t know | 34 | 31 | 9 |
How can healthy people get HIV? (closed-ended question, one answer per each line, % of those who have heard of/knows about HIV/AIDS) | |||
| HIV can be transmitted | HIV cannot be transmitted | Don’t know |
Sexual contact | 98 | 1 | 1 |
Injections, blood transfusion | 98 | 1 | 1 |
Skin tissue integrity damage caused by tattoos, manicures | 90 | 6 | 4 |
When the mucous membrane is damaged during dental procedures | 82 | 13 | 5 |
Mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy or childbirth | 74 | 16 | 10 |
Mosquito bite | 35 | 54 | 11 |
transmitted by everyday contact (utensils, household stuffs) | 13 | 82 | 5 |
Airborne transmission | 11 | 84 | 5 |
By water or food | 9 | 85 | 6 |
By handshake | 4 | 95 | 1 |
In your opinion, how many Russians are HIV-positive? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who have heard of/knows about HIV/AIDS) | |||
| 2017 | Those who know someone who is HIV-positive | Those who do not know anyone who is HIV-positive |
< 1% | 5 | 3 | 5 |
1-5% | 28 | 18 | 29 |
6-10% | 21 | 20 | 22 |
> 10% | 32 | 49 | 30 |
Don’t know | 14 | 10 | 14 |
What is the likelihood that someone in your inner circle can get HIV? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who have heard of/knows about HIV/AIDS) | ||||||
| 2017 | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | Aged 60 and more |
Absolutely impossible | 15 | 13 | 16 | 8 | 12 | 21 |
Unlikely possible | 48 | 56 | 53 | 53 | 44 | 41 |
Quite possible; it may happen | 34 | 27 | 28 | 37 | 40 | 32 |
Don’t know | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
In your opinion, what should be done to those with AIDS? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who have heard of/knows about HIV/AIDS) | |
| 2017 |
Isolate from others | 4 |
Provide assistance | 92 |
Leave them alone | 2 |
Don’t know | 2 |
In your opinion, is the HIV problem important or not important for Russia today? (closed-ended question, one answer % of those who have heard of/knows about HIV/AIDS) | |
| 2017 |
Rather important | 92 |
Rather not important | 2 |
I did not know about the spread of HIV; I did not think about that | 5 |
Don’t know | 1 |
HIV-positive means that a person has the human immunodeficiency virus. Do you know anyone who is HIV-positive? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who have heard of/knows about HIV/AIDS) | |
| 2017 |
Yes | 11 |
No | 88 |
Don’t know | 1 |
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!