Number of HIV positive people in Jersey (FOI)

​​​​Request

A

How many people in Jersey are living with HIV?

B

Please provide a breakdown of these figures of how many people were HIV+ every year since 2018.

C

Where there has​​ been an increase, is this down to more testing of islanders who were found to have HIV, or a case that people who were already HIV+ moved here? 

D

How is testing carried out and what is the process here? 

E

What percentage of those who have HIV are men, what percentage are female, and what percentage are men who sleep with men?

Response

A and B

Figures for the number of people known to Health and Community Services (HCS) to be living with HIV each year since 2018 were published in March 2024 in a Freedom of Information response on www.gov.je:

HIV diagnoses from 2018 to 2023 (FOI)​

As this information is available elsewhere, Article 23 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 has been applied.

C

Testing rates have significantly increased, in part due to the introduction of the Asymptomatic Screening Clinic, which has increased and improved accessibility. Relocation of people living with HIV (PLWH) to Jersey is a contributing factor.

D

Blood samples are taken for HIV testing. More information on services provided through HCS’ Sexual Health Team / GUM Clinic are available on www.gov.je:

GUM (sexual health) clinic (gov.je)​

E

For those known to HCS to be living with HIV:

• 30% are female
  
• 70% are male

In respect of sexual behaviours, whilst there may be documentation within individual medical records, no central record is available to report from. Therefore, Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

Articles applied

Article 3 - Meaning of “information held by a public authority”

For the purposes of this Law, information is held by a public authority if –

(a)     it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person; or

(b)     it is held by another person on behalf of the authority.

Article 23 - Information accessible to applicant by other means

(1) Information is absolutely exempt information if it is reasonably available to the applicant, otherwise than under this Law, whether or not free of charge.

(2) A scheduled public authority that refuses an application for information on this ground must make reasonable efforts to inform the applicant where the applicant may obtain the information.