The main objective of this survey was to draw up a portrait of attitudes of the general public in Québec towards people living with HIV in 2010. It was carried out through a telephone survey of 1500 Québécois aged 15 to 64 from every region of Québec, who could communicate in French or in English. The same survey had been carried out in 1996 with 3501 Québécois with the same characteristics. The following table presents a comparison of Québécois’ knowledge about modes of transmission of HIV/AIDS in 1996 and in 2010.

These results suggest that Quebecois’ knowledge regarding modes of HIV transmission has deteriorated since 1996. While knowledge related to risk of transmission during sexual relations (with or without condom) did not change between 1996 and 2010, a number of myths associated with modes of transmission seem to be making a reappearance. In fact, in 2010, the modes of “non-transmission” are less well known to the public than the modes of “transmission.” In addition, very few respondents (slightly more than a third) were able to respond correctly to the question concerning the risk of transmission of HIV during a sexual relation with condom, in any year.

The results of the survey concerning attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS will be published in the coming weeks… to be continued.