PRESS RELEASE April 30, 2009

Kaiser Family Foundation Releases Survey About HIV/AIDS In U.S.

Kaiser Family Foundation Releases Survey About HIV/AIDS In U.S.

30 Apr 2009   

"2009 Survey of Americans on HIV/AIDS," Kaiser Family Foundation: The new survey found that in the U.S., the sense of urgency about HIV/AIDS as a national health issue has decreased significantly and that residents' concerns about the disease as a personal risk also has declined, even among some high-risk groups. According to the survey, the percentage of people in the U.S. who named HIV/AIDS as the most urgent health problem facing the country decreased from 44% in 1995 to 17% in 2006 and 6% currently. It also found that although blacks and Hispanics have HIV rates seven and three times higher than whites, respectively, and are more likely to see HIV/AIDS as a pressing issue, fewer say that it is a "more urgent" problem now than in 2006. According to the survey, the percentage of people ages 18 to 29 who say that they are personally very concerned about contracting HIV decreased from 30% in 1997 to 17% currently. In addition, it found that 53% of non-elderly adults say that they have been tested for HIV. Half of the U.S. public thinks that the federal government is allocating too little on domestic HIV/AIDS issues, and the survey also found signs that HIV/AIDS might carry less stigma than in the past (Kaiser Family Foundation release, 4/28).