The HIV pandemic in Sweden: What do people really think about mandatory HIV testing?

This study examines (1) how the general population of Sweden defines the concept of mandatory HIV testing; (2) what measures people consider should be taken against HIV infected individuals if mandatory testing is introduced; and (3) how the opinion of mandatory testing is affected if people conside...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scandinavian journal of public health 1992-03, Vol.20 (1), p.19-24
Main Author: Herlitz, Claes
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - epidemiology
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - prevention & control
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
AIDS Serodiagnosis
AIDS/HIV
Attitude to Health
Bioethics
Biological and medical sciences
Female
Health Personnel
Health Policy - legislation & jurisprudence
Humans
Immunodeficiencies
Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies
Immunopathology
Interviews as Topic
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Prevention of disease
Public Opinion
Risk-Taking
Students - psychology
Students, Nursing
Sweden - epidemiology
Voluntary Programs
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Summary:This study examines (1) how the general population of Sweden defines the concept of mandatory HIV testing; (2) what measures people consider should be taken against HIV infected individuals if mandatory testing is introduced; and (3) how the opinion of mandatory testing is affected if people consider the matter from a personal rather than neutral point of view. The two first questions were investigated in personal interviews with 1651 randomly selected individuals aged 16-74 years (Study 1). The third question was investigated in an experimental study among Swedish college/university students (Study 2). A total of 58% of the respondents in Study 1 favoured mandatory HIV testing. Confronted with a situation where mandatory testing is introduced and someone refuses to take a test 40% favoured forced testing and 24% favoured fines. If someone is identified as being HIV infected three out of four recommended action only in case this person exposes others to risk. In Study 2 mandatory testing was not, as could be expected, considered to be more repellent if the issue was viewed from a personal point of view than from a neutral one.
ISSN:0300-8037
1403-4948
1651-1905
DOI:10.1177/140349489202000105