Homosexual men in Australia: population, distributionand HIV prevalence

Sexual Health ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garrett Prestage ◽  
Jason Ferris ◽  
Jeffrey Grierson ◽  
Rachel Thorpe ◽  
Iryna Zablotska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Estimation Methods ◽  
Homosexual Men ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Gay Community ◽  
South Wales ◽  
And Bisexual

Objectives: To assess the size, distribution and changes in the population of homosexual and bisexual men in Australia, and the capacity of available measures to make this estimation. Methods: We used data from five sources: the Australian Study of Health and Relationships, the Gay Community Periodic Surveys, HIV Futures, the Health in Men cohort study, the Australian National HIV and AIDS Registries and the Australian Household Census. Results: We estimated that in 2001 there were ~74 000 homosexual and bisexual men in New South Wales (NSW), ~42 000 in Victoria and ~37 000 in Queensland. There was, however, some discrepancy between datasets in the estimates of the overall proportions and distribution of homosexual and bisexual men across states. We also estimated HIV prevalence rates among homosexual and bisexual men in 2001 at ~8% in NSW, 5% in Victoria and 4% in Queensland. There were insufficient data to estimate whether the state-specific populations of homosexual men were changing with time. Conclusion: There are ~75% more homosexual and bisexual men in NSW than in Victoria and about twice as many as in Queensland. There are about two-thirds as many HIV-positive men in NSW as in Victoria and Queensland combined. Improved collection of population-based data on homosexuality are required.

Trends in HIV prevalence among homosexual and bisexual men in eastern Australian states

Sexual Health ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garrett Prestage ◽  
Fengyi Jin ◽  
Iryna Zablotska ◽  
John Imrie ◽  
John M. Kaldor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
Homosexual Men ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Eastern State ◽  
Gay Community ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Marked Decline ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
Small Decline

Objectives: In Australia, HIV notification rates in homosexual men, previously much higher in New South Wales, have become similar across the eastern states. We examined whether trends in HIV prevalence in community-based samples of homosexual men were consistent with the trends in HIV notifications. Methods: We examined data on self-reported HIV status from annual cross-sectional, self-completed anonymous surveys of homosexual men conducted between 1998 and 2006 in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Men were recruited at gay community venues, clinics and large gay community events. We calculated age-specific and age-standardised HIV prevalence rates. Comparisons of HIV prevalence between the three cities and across time were carried out using age-specific rates, and using logistic regression, controlling for age. Results: Men recruited from clinics had a much higher prevalence of HIV (P < 0.001) and were excluded from further analyses. Among the 50 239 completed questionnaires obtained at non-clinic sites, there was a marked decline in aged-standardised HIV prevalence in Sydney (from 14.2 to 8.98%, P < 0.001), a small decline in Brisbane (from 8.51 to 6.94%, P = 0.012) and no change in Melbourne (from 8.35 to 8.06%, P = 0.848). There were significant declines in men aged less than 50 years in Sydney, and in men aged less than 30 years in Brisbane. In Melbourne there was no significant trend in HIV at any age. Conclusion: HIV prevalence among young homosexual men has declined in Sydney, and these data suggest that HIV incidence among homosexual men is now similar in the eastern state capitals of Australia.

Effective partnership and adequate investment underpin a successful response: key factors in dealing with HIV increases

Sexual Health ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Bernard ◽  
Susan Kippax ◽  
Don Baxter
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Social Research ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
Financial Investment ◽  
Gay Community ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Prevention Activities

Background: Australia has mounted an effective response to HIV and AIDS by investing in evidence-informed policy. Recently, in response to increases in HIV in some states in Australia, the New South Wales Department of Health set up a ‘think tank’ to examine differences in epidemiological and behavioural data, policies, strategies and community responses in order to account for state-based differences and ensure an effective ongoing response to HIV. Methods: The National Centre in HIV Social Research undertook key informant interviews with major stakeholders to help understand differences in responses by the three states most affected by HIV in Australia – Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. In parallel, the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations completed an analysis of the investments in HIV-prevention activities targeting gay men in all jurisdictions in Australia. The Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations also analysed the strategic contexts and government responses to HIV in the three states. Results: There were significant differences between New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria in the way the HIV partnership functions. Type of prevention strategy and level of financial investment in prevention activities appear to be related to the effectiveness of the ongoing response to HIV. Conclusions: An active commitment to and adequate resourcing of HIV prevention by all stakeholders in the HIV partnership – government and non-government departments, researchers and gay community organisations – is crucial if Australia is to respond effectively to HIV among gay and other men who have sex with men.

A community-led, harm-reduction approach to chemsex: case study from Australia’s largest gay city

Sexual Health ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahra Stardust ◽  
Johann Kolstee ◽  
Stefan Joksic ◽  
James Gray ◽  
Siobhan Hannan
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Gay And Bisexual Men ◽  
Sexual Pleasure ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
South Wales ◽  
And Bisexual

Rates of drug use remain substantially higher among gay and bisexual men (GBM) and people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The use of drugs to enhance sexual pleasure within cultures of Party and Play creates opportunities to discuss sexual health, mental health, consent and wellbeing. Community organisations with a history of HIV prevention, care, treatment are well-placed to respond. ACON’s (formerly the AIDS Council of New South Wales) multi-dimensional response to ‘chemsex’ includes: direct client services support for individuals seeking to manage or reduce their use; health promotion activities that support peer education; partnerships with research institutions to better understand cultures of chemsex; and policy submissions that call for drug use to be approached as a health, rather than a criminal, issue. The approach speaks the language of Party and Play subcultures; employs culturally relevant terminology and imagery; uses content designed, created and delivered by peers; and operates within a pleasure-positive, harm-reduction and community-led framework. These interventions have led to increased service uptake, strong community engagement, robust research partnerships and the recognition of GBM as a priority population in relevant strategies.

Trends in HIV testing among homosexual and bisexual men in eastern Australian states

Sexual Health ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garrett Prestage ◽  
Fengyi Jin ◽  
Iryna B. Zablotska ◽  
John Imrie ◽  
Andrew E. Grulich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Homosexual Men ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Gay Community ◽  
Private Lives ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
And Bisexual

Objectives: We examined whether trends in HIV testing in community-based samples of homosexual men may account for the convergence in HIV notification rates in homosexual men across the eastern states of Australia. Methods: We examined data on self-reported HIV testing from annual cross-sectional, self-completed anonymous surveys of homosexual men conducted between 1998 and 2006 in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Men were recruited at gay community venues and events. Comparisons of HIV testing between the three cities and across time were carried out. We also compared reported rates of HIV testing across states in Private Lives, the 2005 online survey of health and wellbeing among non-heterosexual people. Results: Men recruited from clinics had a much higher prevalence of HIV testing and were excluded from further analyses. Among the 48 263 completed questionnaires obtained in non-clinic sites, there was a marked decline in the proportion of men who had never been tested for HIV in Sydney (from 8.1 to 5.1%, P trend < 0.001) and Brisbane (from 11.8 to 7.9%, P trend = 0.002) but no change in Melbourne. This proportion of men who had never been tested was lower in Sydney than in either Melbourne or Brisbane (P < 0.001). There were increases in the proportion of non-HIV-positive men who had been tested for HIV in the previous year across all three cities, although the proportion in Melbourne was lower than in the other two cities. Conclusion: These data suggest that changes in HIV testing rates among homosexual men are insufficient to account for the recent differences in trends in HIV notifications in eastern Australia.

Estimating population distribution and HIV prevalence among homosexual and bisexual men

Sexual Health ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Madeddu ◽  
Andrew Grulich ◽  
Juliet Richters ◽  
Jason Ferris ◽  
Jeffrey Grierson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Distribution ◽  
Hiv Prevalence ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Australian Study ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Male Population ◽  
Sex Attraction ◽  
Gay Community ◽  
Gay Communities ◽  
And Bisexual

Objectives: To estimate the extent of the homosexual and bisexual male population in inner Sydney and HIV prevalence within this population. Methods: Data from the 2000/2001 Sydney Gay Community Periodic Survey (SGCPS) and the Australian Study of Health and Relationships were used. Results: A re-analysis of responses from men in some inner east and inner west postcode areas of Sydney indicated that: the proportion of men who identified as homosexual or bisexual ranged from 4.4% to 48.1%; from 9.8% to 51.5% of men reported same-sex experiences during their lifetime; and 12.9% to 52.8% of men had ever experienced feelings of same-sex attraction. HIV prevalence among respondents to the SGCPS in these same areas varied from 9.1% to 21.3%. Conclusion: These findings indicate elevated proportions of men with same-sex identity, experience or attraction living in these inner Sydney locations compared with other geographic areas and illustrate how gay communities cluster.

Substantial increase in yield of Neisseria gonorrhoeae testing 2008–2013 at a Sydney metropolitan sexual health clinic: an observational study

Sexual Health ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 79
Author(s):  
Preethi Rajagopal ◽  
Sian L. Goddard ◽  
David J. Templeton
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Sex Workers ◽  
New South ◽  
Gay And Bisexual Men ◽  
Health Clinic ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
South Wales ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
Generalised Estimating Equations ◽  
Hiv Negative

Background A substantial increase in gonorrhoea notifications in New South Wales has been observed in recent years. Methods: We assessed yield of testing and characteristics of those diagnosed with gonorrhoea from January 2008 to December 2013 at RPA Sexual Health in the inner-west of Sydney. Yield was defined as the proportion of testing occasions which were positive for gonorrhoea. Generalised estimating equations were used to calculate trends in yield over time. Results: During the 6-year study period, 6456 individuals (4308 males, 2124 females, 24 transgender individuals) were tested on 12 799 occasions; this included 2441 gay and bisexual men (GBM) who were tested on 6945 occasions. Over the study period there was a significant increase in testing at genital, anorectal and pharyngeal sites (P-trend <0.001 for all). In total, gonorrhoea was detected on 668 testing occasions among 536 individuals (5.2%). Overall, 254/12765 (2.0%) of genital tests, 251/7326 (3.4%) of anorectal tests and 342/8252 (4.1%) of pharyngeal tests were positive. There was a significant increase in overall gonorrhoea yield from 2.2% in 2008 to 7.1% in 2013 (P-trend <0.001). This temporal increase in gonorrhoea yield was observed in heterosexual males (P < 0.001), heterosexual females (P-trend = 0.008), female sex workers (P-trend = 0.006), HIV-positive GBM and HIV-negative GBM (both P < 0.001) and at all anatomical sites (P-trend <0.001 for all). Conclusions: From 2008 to 2013, we observed a greater than threefold increase in yield of gonorrhoea testing disproportionately affecting GBM, although the increase also occurred in other subpopulations and at all anatomic sites. More frequent and comprehensive testing could potentially reduce the high and increasing community prevalence of gonorrhoea.

scholarly journals Whole of population-based cohort study of recovery time from COVID-19 in New South Wales Australia

2021 ◽  
pp. 100193
Author(s):  
Bette Liu ◽  
Duleepa Jayasundara ◽  
Victoria Pye ◽  
Timothy Dobbins ◽  
Gregory J Dore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Recovery Time ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Population Based ◽  
South Wales
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