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.

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.

scholarly journals Adapting behavioural surveillance to antiretroviral-based HIV prevention: reviewing and anticipating trends in the Australian Gay Community Periodic Surveys

Sexual Health ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Holt ◽  
Toby Lea ◽  
Limin Mao ◽  
Iryna Zablotska ◽  
Evelyn Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Condom Use ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Antiretroviral Drugs ◽  
Hiv Treatment ◽  
Treatment As Prevention ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Condomless Sex ◽  
Gay Community ◽  
Behavioural Surveillance ◽  
And Bisexual

Background In Australia, the preventative use of antiretroviral drugs [pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and treatment as prevention] is being embraced to protect individuals at high risk of HIV and reduce onward transmission. Methods: The adaptation of a behavioural surveillance system, the Gay Community Periodic Surveys, was reviewed to monitor the uptake and effect of new prevention strategies in Australia’s primary HIV-affected population (gay and bisexual men, GBM). The national trends in key indicators during 2000–15 were reviewed and a new measure to take account of antiretroviral-based prevention was developed. Results: Between 2000 and 2015, there were significant increases (P < 0.001) in annual HIV testing (56.1–64.8%), condomless sex with casual partners (26.8—38.8%) and the proportion of HIV-positive men on HIV treatment (72.5–88.4%) and with an undetectable viral load (73.7–94.7%). The proportion of casual partners who were HIV negative, not on PrEP and who engaged in receptive condomless sex also increased between 2000 and 2015 from 12.8 to 19.3%. Two scenarios anticipating the effect of PrEP highlighted the need to target GBM who engage in receptive condomless sex while also sustaining condom use at a population level. Conclusions: Behavioural surveillance can be successfully adapted to follow the effect of antiretroviral-based prevention. It is anticipated that HIV testing and HIV treatment will continue to increase among Australian GBM, but to prevent new infections, intervention in the growing proportion of GBM who have condomless sex with casual partners is needed. For PrEP to have its desired effect, condom use needs to be sustained.

Previous and future use of HIV self-testing: a survey of Australian gay and bisexual men

Sexual Health ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garrett Prestage ◽  
Iryna Zablotska ◽  
Ben Bavinton ◽  
Andrew Grulich ◽  
Phillip Keen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Gay And Bisexual Men ◽  
Anal Intercourse ◽  
Unprotected Anal Intercourse ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Testing Procedures ◽  
Self Testing ◽  
And Bisexual

Background The awareness and previous and intended use of HIV self-testing (HST), and the associated factors, among Australian gay and bisexual men (GBM) was investigated. Methods: An online cross-sectional survey was conducted in Australia during 2012. Of 1410 respondents, 559 non-HIV-positive men answered questions about HST. Results: Men reported reasons for having avoided or delayed HIV testing, most of which could be broadly categorised as: the inconvenience of current testing procedures; concerns about privacy; and a belief that they had not done anything risky. Over one-third of men (39.7%) were aware that HST was available internationally, with 1.6% having accessed HST through online purchase. The majority of men in the study indicated that they would be ‘likely’ (36.5%) or ‘very likely’ (34.3%) to use HST if it was available in Australia. Also, 36.7% indicated they would test partners they met at sex-on-site venues, and 73.2% would test partners with whom they were already acquainted. Nearly half (47.6%) indicated that having the capacity to test themselves at home would likely increase their testing frequency. Men who had engaged in unprotected anal intercourse, who were not gay-identified, and who indicated inconvenience issues with using clinic-based HIV testing were more likely to indicate a willingness to use HST. Many men indicated they would be likely to offer HST to at least some of their sex partners. Conclusion: Many GBM who engage in HIV risk behaviours would appreciate HST, and may be encouraged to test more often, as it may alleviate their concerns about testing.

Influencing Condom Use by Gay and Bisexual Men for Anal Sex Through Social Marketing

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffery Adams ◽  
Stephen Neville ◽  
Karl Parker ◽  
Taisia Huckle
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Condom Use ◽  
Social Marketing ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Gay And Bisexual Men ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Anal Sex ◽  
Gay Community ◽  
And Bisexual

Encouraging gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) to use condoms for anal sex has been a cornerstone of HIV prevention initiatives globally for several decades. In New Zealand, Get it On!!, a social marketing program, sought to influence gay and bisexual men to use a condom “every time” for anal sex. To assess the effectiveness of Get it On!, an integrated program evaluation approach including evaluation rubrics was utilized. Self-report data were collected from 960 men using an online survey and a paper-based survey administered at a large, gay community event. The men reported they were exposed to the campaign messages, understood them well, and engaged with the program. Importantly, the men reported Get it On! encouraged them to take action, including being more conscious about using a condom for sex. Get it On! performed well in regard to encouraging a culture accepting of condom use. Significantly, the evaluation found the greater the exposure to Get it On!, the more likely a man was to report using a condom for anal sex. Overall, the campaign is likely contributing to New Zealand’s relatively high rates of condom use and the low incidence of HIV infection among MSM. This strongly suggests the campaign should be continued and enhanced as a key HIV prevention strategy.

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.

scholarly journals Exploring the role of sex-seeking apps and websites in the social and sexual lives of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men: a cross-sectional study

Sexual Health ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kiffer G. Card ◽  
Nathan J. Lachowsky ◽  
Zishan Cui ◽  
Susan Shurgold ◽  
Maya Gislason ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sensation Seeking ◽  
Gay And Bisexual Men ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Social Interventions ◽  
Gay Community ◽  
Social Time ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
Sex With Men

Background The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between online sex-seeking, community/social attachment and sexual behaviour. Methods: Respondent-driven sampling was used to recruit 774 sexually active gay and bisexual men in Vancouver, Canada, aged ≥16 years. Multivariable logistic regression compared men who had used online sex-seeking apps/websites in the past 6 months (n = 586) with those who did not (n = 188). Results: Multivariable results showed that online sex seekers were more likely to be younger [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.95, 95% CI: (0.93–0.96)], college educated [aOR = 1.60, 95% CI: (1.07, 2.40)], have more Facebook friends [aOR = 1.07, 95% CI: (1.01, 1.13)], spend more social time with other gay men [aOR = 1.99, 95% CI: (1.33–2.97)], and were less likely to identify emotionally with the gay community [aOR = 0.93, 95% CI: (0.86–1.00)]. Further, they had displayed high sensation-seeking behaviour [aOR = 1.08, 95% CI: (1.03–1.13)], were more likely to engage in serodiscordant/unknown condomless anal sex [aOR = 2.34, 95% CI: (1.50–3.66)], use strategic positioning [aOR = 1.72, 95% CI: (1.08–2.74)], ask their partner’s HIV-status prior to sex [aOR = 2.06, 95% CI: (1.27–3.37)], and have ever been tested for HIV [aOR = 4.11, 95% CI: (2.04–8.29)]. Conclusion: These findings highlight the online and offline social behaviour exhibited by gay and bisexual men, pressing the need for pro-social interventions to promote safe-sex norms online. We conclude that both Internet and community-based prevention will help reach app/web users.

scholarly journals Combination prevention and HIV: a cross-sectional community survey of gay and bisexual men in London, October to December 2016

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (25) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Logan ◽  
Ibidun Fakoya ◽  
Alison Howarth ◽  
Gary Murphy ◽  
Anne M Johnson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Gay And Bisexual Men ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Transmitted Infection ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Combination Prevention ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
The Past ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
And Bisexual

Background Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at risk of HIV and are an important population to monitor and ameliorate combination prevention efforts. Aim To estimate HIV prevalence and identify factors associated with frequent HIV testing (≥ 2 HIV tests in the last year) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among MSM in London. Methods For this cross-sectional study, MSM recruited from 22 social venues provided oral-fluid samples for anonymous HIV antibody (Ab) testing and completed a questionnaire. Factors associated with frequent HIV testing and PrEP use were identified through logistic regression. Results Of 767 men recruited, 545 provided an eligible oral specimen. Among these, 38 MSM (7.0%) were anti-HIV positive including five (13.2%; 5/38) who reported their status as negative. Condomless anal sex within the previous 3 months was reported by 60.1% (412/685) men. Frequent HIV testing was associated with, in the past year, a reported sexually transmitted infection (adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 5.05; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.66–9.58) or ≥ 2 casual condomless partners (AOR 2–4 partners: 3.65 (95% CI: 1.87–7.10); AOR 5–10 partners: 3.34 (95% CI: 1.32–8.49). Age ≥ 35 years was related to less frequent HIV testing (AOR 35–44 years: 0.34 (95% CI: 0.16–0.72); AOR ≥ 45 years: 0.29 (95% CI: 0.12–0.69). PrEP use in the past year was reported by 6.2% (46/744) of MSM and associated with ≥ 2 casual condomless sex partners (AOR: 2.86; 95% CI: 1.17–6.98) or chemsex (AOR: 2.31; 95% CI: 1.09–4.91). Conclusion This bio-behavioural study of MSM found high rates of behaviours associated with increased risk of HIV transmission. Combination prevention, including frequent HIV testing and use of PrEP, remains crucial in London.

Reasons why gay and other bisexually active men attend different community testing services in Sydney; a cross-sectional survey

Sexual Health ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vickie Knight ◽  
Timmy Lockwood ◽  
Terry Walkinshaw ◽  
Philip Keen ◽  
Rebecca Guy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Gay And Bisexual Men ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Hiv Testing Services ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
New Community ◽  
Community Site

In 2013, two new community HIV testing services were implemented in Sydney, Australia, to increase testing options for gay men. Participants were asked to complete an 8-item questionnaire to select one primary and up to three secondary reasons for attending the testing service. Over one-third of gay and bisexual men (GBM) selected getting their HIV result at the same visit as the main reason they attended at both testing services (38% and 34%, respectively; P = 0.5). GBM at the Shopfront were more likely to say that the convenient location was the main reason they attended, compared with men at the Community site (15% vs 7%, P < 0.01). These findings can inform future scale-up of HIV testing in Sydney and other places.

scholarly journals Condomless Group Sex Is Associated With HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Knowledge and Interest Uptake: A Cross-Sectional Study of Gay and Bisexual Men in Paris, France

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Denton Callander ◽  
Su Hyun Park ◽  
Yazan A. Al-Ajlouni ◽  
John A. Schneider ◽  
Maria R. Khan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Gay And Bisexual Men ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Recent Experience ◽  
Bisexual Men ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
Group Sex ◽  
Exposure Prophylaxis

As a prevention strategy, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) may benefit men who participate in group sex, but little is known about PrEP among this group internationally and virtually nothing is known of the European context. This study used an online survey of gay men living in Paris, France to assess associations between group sex and awareness of, use and interest in PrEP in its once-daily, episodic, injectable, and microbicidal forms. Men reporting recent (within 3 months) condomless group sex were much more likely to report once-daily PrEP use than men with no group sex experience (41.5% vs 7.7%, p < .001). Uptake was similarly low among men who had group sex with condoms (8.0%) and those with less-recent experience (6.43%). Overall, willingness to use PrEP—including its non-daily forms—was high among men reporting group sex, suggesting opportunities for outreach and implementation.

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