Common Myths about HIV
HIV stigmas come from disinformation around the virus. To erase them, therefore, it is important to know certain common myths about the virus and disease:
– HIV is almost a death sentence: This is totally wrong because many treatment options have been introduced to increase the life expectancy and quality of those with HIV.
– HIV can be transmitted easily through touch: The virus cannot be spread that easily. Instead, the virus would be transmitted only via semen, blood, breast milk, and sex.
– HIV only affects some groups: The virus can be spread to anyone, regardless of their sexuality, ethnicity, or gender. However, some groups may be at a higher risk of getting HIV than others.
– HIV is not as serious of a concern as it used to be: Despite great improvements over the past decades, HIV is still affecting millions of people in the world. In fact, the transmission of the virus is still a major concern for public health in many countries. [6]
