World Day

Aids, the 'hotline' works overtime to counter fake news and stigma at work

From a handshake to a kiss to a swim in the pool: still misinformation on risk-contagion in 6.4% of user requests and illegitimate practices such as requesting an HIV test as a condition for access to jobs, internships or sports activities

by Health Editor

1 December 2025

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4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

On the occasion of World AIDS Day on 1 December, the AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections Helpline - 800861061, anonymous and free of charge - will hold an extraordinary opening from 9am to 7pm.

The budget

The balance is drawn by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, which manages the service: 5,453 telephone calls arrived between 1 January and 25 November 2025, an average of 25 per day, half of which came from people using this contact option for the first time.

Over this period of time, 17,904 questions were answered, mainly concerning the ways in which HIV and other sexually transmitted infections are transmitted, information on testing, and psycho-social aspects such as discrimination and stigma, which in some cases still persist together with misinformation. Taking stock, on the occasion of World AIDS Day, is the Psycho-social-behavioural Research, Communication, Training Operational Unit of the Department of Infectious Diseases, which is in charge of the service.

The aim is to encourage, in a broad and widespread manner, the use of the institutional telephone counselling service, also by deaf people, for example, who can access it by filling in a special form (Form Telefoni Verdi - Iss) while fully respecting confidentiality.

Promoting the execution of the test, especially in case of doubt, is another of the aims of the day: in this regard, the mapping of the centres in the territory, which amount to 628, was completed in November 2025.

The user identikit

Male, heterosexual, young adult: this is the identikit of the most frequent callers to the Green Line.
85.3% of calls to the Green Line came from men and 14.7% from women. The most represented age group is young adults, 20-39 years old, followed by 40-59 years old. Calls from people over 60 accounted for 6%. 44.7% of the calls came from Northern Italy, Central Regions 28.2%, Southern Regions 21.1% and Islands 6%.

Those who called the hotline stated that they had predominantly had heterosexual relationships (58.0%), or were men who have sex with men (13.4%). Of those who made a call, 26.9% expressed the fear that they had been exposed to infection without having engaged in risky behaviour.

Phone calls showing that the person had been tested for HIV at least once accounted for 50%, while in 17% of cases the test was never carried out.

Where Misinformation Lurks

The questions addressed in the counselling interviews totalled 17,904 and mainly concerned modes of transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (46.3%), information on testing (27.2%) and psycho-social aspects (12.5%). Questions indicating misinformation accounted for 6.4% of the total and referred in particular to social contacts (handshaking), kissing/hugging and sharing public environments (bars/restaurants, transport, gyms/pools, toilets). A gender difference emerged from this data, with men appearing to be more interested in modes of transmission while women in diagnostic information.

Since February 2012, a specialised legal advice hotline, available three afternoons a week, has also been active at the Aids Hotline and Ist. From the date of activation to date, more than 1,000 enquiries have been received and the issues addressed during the telephone intervention have mainly concerned the protection of rights in the workplace. Violations of privacy were reported in one out of four telephone calls.

Abuse and stigma at work

'A worrying fact emerges from the work carried out,' stresses Anna Colucci, head of the Operational Unit for Psycho-socio-behavioural Research, Communication, and Training of the Infectious Diseases Department of the Iss, 'a constant and widespread ignorance of the law. Despite the important therapeutic advances and the consequent improvement in the quality of life of people living with HIV, stigma and various forms of discrimination persist, as well as illegitimate practices such as requesting the HIV test as a condition for access to work, training or sporting activities, in violation of the regulations in force'.

Tests in 628 centres

There are 628 centres in Italy where it is possible to be tested for HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections, recorded in a database completed in November 2025 and including Centres for the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases, Centres for Sexually Transmitted Infections, Community-based Checkpoints.

Information on the centres is provided through the hotline or can be consulted independently by accessing the Uniti Against Aids website.

An analysis of the information contained in the database shows that 47.2% of the Centres are located in Northern Italy, 26.8% in Central Italy, 17.0% in Southern Italy and 9.1% in Sicily and Sardinia. The database contains information on how to access the Centres and on the availability of diagnostic tests for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

The Centres' database also provides information on Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis - PrEP) offered in 188 Centres and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis for HIV (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis - PEP), available and accessible in 186 Centres.

On the occasion of World AIDS Day and the anniversary of its foundation, the Uniti Against Aids site is also actively participating in national and international events and campaigns, also promoting the extension of the Aids Helpline and Ist.