The HIV Pandemic in Sweden: What do people Really think about Mandatory HIV Testing?

Abstract

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.