Catherine Murphy: Complacency about HIV puts many in danger

Published on Thursday 12 February 2009 08:54

HEALTH Protection Scotland (HPS) released new HIV statistics last week. The figures show that another 372 people in Scotland were given the news that they had HIV last year.

The same report showed that more people in Edinburgh and the Lothians are living with HIV than anywhere else in the country, with an equivalent of a new case every three days. So what are the lessons we need to learn from this?

Gay men continue to be one of the groups most at risk, with one in 25 gay men in Scotland living with HIV. A study revealed that well over a third of gay men with HIV didn't know it.

A lot of gay men who've had unprotected sex assume they're still HIV negative but many are wrong. Some are relying on an old test result or just presume that their partners would tell them if they had HIV. With many gay men unaware they are infected, it's a dangerous presumption. That's why we must invest in campaigns to encourage men to think about their risk and, if necessary, get tested so they know for sure.

One of the other reasons that might explain why HIV rates aren't going down is because we now see HIV in a very different light. Just fifteen years ago there seemed few good reasons to test for HIV. The treatments were new, side-effects many and medicines seemed rudimentary.

Things have moved on dramatically thanks to advances in HIV medication. Today people living with HIV are more likely to die of old age.

Does the fact that HIV is now a long-term condition that can be managed mean that we're becoming complacent?

So what can we do to improve the nation's sexual health? THT Scotland is calling for investment in targeted education campaigns and access to faster, easier testing.

In terms of education and awareness, everyone can contribute – MSPs, teachers, doctors, charities, the gay community and parents. We're far more likely to see rates of new infections decline in Scotland if we tackle it together.

Catherine Murphy is policy & parliamentary affairs officer for Terrence Higgins Trust Scotland