Majority of men have never tested for HIV despite over a third having regular unprotected sex, poll finds
Common reasons for not testing include 34% believing they are unlikely to ever
contract HIV and 25% claiming they cannot contract HIV.
Sunday 9 February 2025 10:54, UK
The majority of men have never tested themselves for HIV despite over a third
having regular unprotected sex, according to a poll conducted ahead of National
HIV Testing Week.
HIV diagnoses among heterosexual men have surged by more than a third (36%),
according to the latest data released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
Despite the increase, 73% of men have never tested themselves for HIV, despite
(37%) having regular unprotected sex, the poll by Newfoundland Diagnostics
found.
Common reasons for not testing include 34% believing they are unlikely to ever
contract HIV and 25% of the 2,504 surveyed claiming they cannot contract HIV.
Some 20% confessed they could not be bothered to test for HIV and 15% said they
had never had access to a HIV test.
Dr Hilary Jones said: “This new data shows that not only is HIV not a problem of
the past – things could get much worse.
“We’ve already seen a rise in new HIV infections compared to previous years, and
judging by these findings, risky sexual behaviours will no doubt exacerbate
transmission rates.
“This isn’t about stigmatising sexual health, but rather using common sense and
taking precautions to ensure personal and community wellbeing.
“Getting tested regularly, using protection, being open with sexual partners
about sexual health status, and being able to access preventative treatments
like PrEP are all small steps that can have a massive impact on HIV
transmission.”
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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to end new HIV cases within England
by 2030.
But Newfoundland Diagnostics called on the government to increase education on
transmission risks and lower barriers to access the HIV prevention drug PrEP,
particularly for heterosexual men – as 41% in need were not able to access the
drug.
Frederick Manduca, co-founder of Newfoundland Diagnostics, said: “HIV self-tests
are more than a diagnostic tool – they’re a critical strategy to help shatter
misconceptions, challenge the stigma around HIV and wider sexual health, and
help to empower people to take control of their sexual health.
“By making testing widely accessible via supermarkets, pharmacies and online, we
open doors to honest conversations and understanding.”
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It comes amid fears more than six million people could die from HIV and AIDS in
the next four years if US President Donald Trump’s
[https://news.sky.com/topic/donald-trump-5711] administration pulls its global
funding for treatment programmes, the United Nations AIDS agency has said.
Mr Trump signed an executive order
[https://news.sky.com/story/executive-orders-donald-trumps-first-acts-as-new-president-13293359]
freezing foreign aid for a 90-day period, and while a waiver was placed on
HIV/AIDS programmes, many concerns remain about the future of treatment
programmes, the deputy executive director of UNAIDS said.
