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.