More than 20 percent people aged 18 to 24 in the UK are so ignorant about HIV, that they believe that the virus has a cure, according to a poll.
The poll was conducted to mark the 25th death anniversary of Terry Higgins, who was among the first people known to die of an AIDS-related illness in England in 1982.About a quarter of people in the same age group actually believed that condoms actually initiate the growth of HIV as they have holes that let HIV in.
More than one in ten young people believed that kissing spreads the growth of the HIV virus.
HIV ignorance is not restricted to youngsters, for out of the 1000 people involved in the poll 28 percent admitted about their misconception related to condoms.
Twelve percent of the people believed that HIV can be transmitted by sharing cutlery while ten percent thought that sweat can also spread the disease.
Only one in three people who were surveyed were assured about receiving good sex education at school.
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"The lack of good sex education means many young people are leaving school ignorant about HIV and safer sex,” the BBC quoted Partridge, as saying.
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