ONLY about a quarter (27%) of people would be comfortable starting a relationship with someone who is living with HIV, according to a new survey.
The research also found that about one in five (21%) people continue to falsely believe that HIV can be passed on from kissing while 5% believe it can be passed on through sharing a glass, cup or cutlery.
HIV Scotland said this shows that public knowledge continues to include many myths and misconceptions that contribute to the ongoing stigma faced by people living with HIV.
It warns that misinformation "devastates relationships and lives" as it called for a co-ordinated approach to tackle HIV-related stigma.
The Our Voice Citizens' Panel Survey study also found only 17% of people were aware that PrEP, a pill you can take daily that prevents HIV transmission, exists.
Meanwhile, just 14% of the 516 people who responded were aware that people living with HIV taking effective treatment cannot pass it on to their sexual partners.
George Valiotis, chief executive of HIV Scotland, said: "It is dangerous that myths and out-dated information remain so widespread.
"Their prevalence misleads and misinforms people of the 21st-century reality of HIV and devastates relationships and lives.
"It is time that everyone knows that HIV cannot be passed on via saliva, kissing or sharing cutlery.
"HIV Scotland produced a national strategy, The Road Map to Zero, which sets out the approach needed to tackle the myths surrounding HIV, which includes action on education in schools.
"We'll continue to advocate getting education right for young people regarding HIV and sexual health whilst recognising that more needs to be done to inform the general public about the modern-day realities of the virus."
One trans-woman living with HIV in Glasgow, who gave her name as Niamh, said: "As a person living with HIV, the stigma I've experienced is grounded in myths and untruths.
"As a result, I've given up dating as it's simply too much to bear. I don't believe we should live in a society where people like me find it too difficult to date because of the misinformation that exists.
"Stigma in all its forms, from media to health professionals to the person on the street, comes from a lack of knowledge and education. The need for this to change is long overdue."
The findings come from the Our Voice Citizens' Panel Survey on HIV awareness, mental health and wellbeing and inclusive communication, with the fourth survey report published on May 4.
Public health minister Aileen Campbell said: "Tackling stigma is one of the five high-level priorities of our Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Framework.
"We are working closely with NHS boards and are providing funding of almost £2 million over the next three years to third-sector organisations to support innovative work to tackle poor sexual health and reduce blood borne viruses.
"The work of Scotland's NHS boards is vital to this - Scotland is the only part of the UK where PrEP is routinely available through NHS services for everyone who needs it and in the first eight months of it being available almost 1,300 individuals were prescribed it."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here