Research indicates that the incidence of hepatitis C (HCV) among HIV-positive men who have sex wi... more Research indicates that the incidence of hepatitis C (HCV) among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) is increasing. Although injecting drug use remains the predominant means of transmission of HCV in the developed world, there is evidence of sexual transmission of HCV among MSM. Stigma associated with HCV has been shown to negatively impact HCV testing and health-seeking behaviour. There is little research that addresses attitudes towards HCV testing among this population. The current exploratory study focussed on HCV knowledge, HCV testing, sexual practices, perceptions of HCV risk and attitudes towards people with HCV among Australian MSM. The sample consisted of 590 men who completed an online survey. The findings suggest that attitudinal factors related to HCV were associated with HCV testing behaviour. The more negatively respondents felt about people with HCV, the less likely they were to have ever had an HCV test. Behavioural risk factors related to sexual practices (i.e. is condom use and sexual risk activities) were not associated with HCV testing. Testing for HCV was associated with HIV-positive status, more knowledge about HCV and a greater likelihood of ever having injected drugs. The attitudes of MSM towards those who inject drugs are negative, mirroring that of society more generally. Furthermore, these attitudes, coupled with a lack of knowledge of the risk of sexual transmission of HCV among gay men, especially those who are HIV-positive, may act to prevent routine HCV testing among some MSM at potential risk of acquiring HCV.
Objective: To consider how issues of sexual practice, risk and clinical technologies are negotiat... more Objective: To consider how issues of sexual practice, risk and clinical technologies are negotiated in serodiscordant regular relationships between gay men. Method: Key findings from the international literature on the psycho-social experience of serodiscordant relationships are offered along with evidence drawn from both surveys and indepth interviews with gay men in Sydney.
Executive Summary The Seroconversion Study collects both quantitative and qualitative data from m... more Executive Summary The Seroconversion Study collects both quantitative and qualitative data from mainly homosexual men who have recently been diagnosed with HIV. Men are referred to the online questionnaire through clinics and HIV organizations providing services to men who are newly diagnosed. Men completing the online questionnaire volunteer for the more extended depth interview. To date, there have been 155 completed questionnaires, across five states, including over twenty who have also completed depth interviews. Summary of findings thus far The average age of respondents is 37, and in most other respects the men in the study appear to be very similar demographically and in terms of their social engagement with other gay men, to most other samples of gay men. Almost half reported that the high risk event which they believe led to their HIV infection included group sex, and although the majority of high risk events occurred at home about a third had met the partner who they belie...
Of the 1521 people who responded to the survey, 700 (46%) responded to some or all of the 10 open... more Of the 1521 people who responded to the survey, 700 (46%) responded to some or all of the 10 open-ended questions in the survey. These questions covered: the content of relationship agreements; communication strategies with partners (including communication about sex, sexually transmissible infections and HIV); the positive and negative aspects of relationships; and the most important issues for gay men in relationships in general. As negotiation of relationship agreements was a central feature of the survey, participants were also asked if they or their partner had ever broken a sexual agreement and, if so, how the breach was dealt with. The analysis presented here specifically focuses on the content, negotiation and function of relationship agreements, communication between partners, responses to breaches of agreements, and what men considered to be the key issues for contemporary gay relationships. The written responses were read to identify patterns, inconsistencies and themes. ...
People who are new to injecting are at the highest risk of acquiring blood-borne viruses, and cer... more People who are new to injecting are at the highest risk of acquiring blood-borne viruses, and certain other characteristics, such as sexual identity, have been known to further heighten this risk. We investigate whether disadvantaged drug-using young people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or who identify as other sexual identity (GLBO) are more likely to have ever injected drugs compared with their heterosexual peers. Convenience sampling was employed across 15 youth services in metropolitan Sydney. Respondents were required to be 16-24 years of age, to have used an illicit drug, to have been exposed to injecting through social networks and been socially disadvantaged in the past 12 months. Participants self-completed a survey using touch screen laptops. In a sample of 250 young people, GLBO participants more commonly reported ever injecting drugs [37.1%, confidence interval (CI) 21.5-55.1% vs. 12.3%, CI 8.1-17.4%] or injecting drugs in the past 12 months [31.4%, CI 16.9-49.3% vs. 5.7%, CI 2.9-9.6%] compared with participants who identified as heterosexual. The higher rates of injecting among GLBO young people found in this sample advocates for the development of targeted prevention strategies for this group. Utilising existing networks in GLBO communities could be one strategy to limit the transition to injecting drug use and reduce the risk of drug-related harms among this group. [Wilson H, Bryant J, Ellard J, Howard J, Treloar C. Sexual identity and its relationship to injecting in a sample of disadvantaged young drug users. Drug Alcohol Rev 2015].
This paper investigates drug use, knowledge of hepatitis C, and risk minimisation amongst partici... more This paper investigates drug use, knowledge of hepatitis C, and risk minimisation amongst participants of the Sydney inner city dance party/club scene. The aim is to identify factors that contribute to the limited success of hepatitis C education and prevention efforts in Australia and to suggest ways in which they might be improved. The method used was a thematic analysis of 31 semi-structured qualitative interviews with people drawn from the Sydney inner city dance party/club scene. This is a scene where the consumption of recreational drugs is normalised, and where the practice of injecting takes place, albeit less commonly to other routes of administration. In the material presented here, drugs are seen as sources of enjoyment and experimentation, but are not seen as necessary to the functioning of daily life. Indeed, dependency on drugs is largely seen as undesirable. Most participants consider themselves to be both well informed about the drugs they use, and in control of thei...
Timely HIV testing among recently HIV-infected gay men may enable earlier access to clinical care... more Timely HIV testing among recently HIV-infected gay men may enable earlier access to clinical care and changes in behaviour that will reduce onward transmission. We investigated the testing practices of men recently diagnosed with HIV to identify factors associated with recent testing. In an online survey of men in Australia recently diagnosed with HIV, participants were asked about their HIV testing history, perceived impediments to testing prior to diagnosis, motivation for testing at the time of diagnosis and a range of demographic and behavioural characteristics. Descriptive statistics were used to compare those men who reported recent HIV testing with those men who had not tested for HIV in the 12 months before their diagnosis. Of 187 men who provided information about their testing history and social connectedness, 6.4% were previously untested for HIV, whereas 65.8% had last tested within the 12 months prior to their diagnosis. Factors associated with having tested more recent...
While numerous studies have examined characteristics of young people who have recently initiated ... more While numerous studies have examined characteristics of young people who have recently initiated injecting, little attention has focused on young people who may be at high risk of transitioning to injecting. This study sought to examine the extent that socially disadvantaged young people were exposed to injecting, determine their level of hepatitis C (HCV) knowledge and identify correlates of higher injecting exposure. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 210 young people in 2010-2011 who were exposed to injecting drug use, but had not transitioned to injecting. Respondents were primarily recruited from youth services in metropolitan Sydney. Exposure to injecting in the previous 12 months was assessed with four items that examined whether close friends, romantic/sexual partners or family members/acquaintances injected drugs, and whether they were offered an injection. Most respondents had at least a few close friends who injected drugs (65%) and almost half had been offered ...
Background In recent years, there has been increasing evidence that early initiation of antiretro... more Background In recent years, there has been increasing evidence that early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) may provide health benefits for those infected with HIV. There has also been significant discussion about the role of HIV treatment in preventing onward transmission of the virus. Early provision and uptake of ART to people recently diagnosed with HIV could achieve both individual and public health outcomes. The success of such an initiative relies, in part, on the preparedness of those recently diagnosed with HIV to engage with the therapy. The HIV Seroconversion Study collects both quantitative and qualitative data from people in Australia who have recently been diagnosed with HIV. During 2011-2012, 53 gay or bisexual men recruited across Australia took part in semistructured interviews as part of the study. The men were asked about their knowledge and experience of, and their decisions about whether or not to commence, HIV treatment. The interviews identified differing levels of knowledge about HIV treatments and divergent views about the health and prevention benefits of ART. For some, treatments provided a sense of control over the virus; others were apprehensive and distrustful, and preferred to resist commencing treatments for as long as possible. If early initiation of treatment is to be encouraged, appropriate measures must be in place to ensure recently diagnosed individuals have access to the appropriate information and the support they need to enable them to make informed choices and, if necessary, to address their fears.
Despite recognition of the benefits of involving consumers in their own treatment, there is littl... more Despite recognition of the benefits of involving consumers in their own treatment, there is little research on consumer participation in drug treatment. This paper focuses on clients who use illicit substances and the role of consumer participation in their self-reported satisfaction with their drug treatment and sense of goal achievement in that treatment. As part of a secondary analysis, the data from 492 participants who had previously or who were currently engaged in drug treatment were analysed to assess the importance of consumer participation in drug treatment. Participants who had a history of opiate or psychostimulant use were recruited at various treatment services and health care facilities for drug users located in five urban and rural/regional sites in Australia. They were asked to complete an interviewer-assisted questionnaire assessing a range of variables including five questions about consumer participation. Findings from this study illustrate that clients' opportunity to participate in drug treatment is independently associated with greater satisfaction with drug treatment and a greater sense of achievement of treatment goals. This research provides evidence to support the importance of consumer activity in drug treatment and should encourage drug treatment programs to afford clients appropriate levels of consumer participation.
Increasing international mobility presents a risk for communicable disease transmission. Overseas... more Increasing international mobility presents a risk for communicable disease transmission. Overseas-acquired HIV infections have been increasingly observed across Australian jurisdictions. This includes a mix of men emigrating from countries with high HIV prevalence and men travelling abroad. There is currently little research exploring international mobility and HIV risk, and as a consequence the increase of men acquiring HIV while travelling overseas is poorly understood. This paper draws on data from a qualitative study exploring the risk perspectives and experiences of 14 Australian men who acquired HIV while travelling overseas in the years between 2000 and 2009. Participants articulated a strong desire to distance themselves from the identity of a tourist. Social networks were highlighted as important entry points to engage with other foreign travellers and expatriates. These networks were highly influential and were understood by the participants to provide guidance on how they should negotiate the local scene, including where to meet sex partners. Limited discussion of safe sex and HIV was mentioned in these contexts. The findings suggest that prevalent social norms and social networks play an influential role in how participants negotiate sex and social relations in overseas settings. These networks could potentially provide sites for effective HIV-prevention programmes.
Objective: To consider how issues of sexual practice, risk and clinical technologies are negotiat... more Objective: To consider how issues of sexual practice, risk and clinical technologies are negotiated in serodiscordant regular relationships between gay men. Method: Key findings from the international literature on the psycho-social experience of serodiscordant relationships are offered along with evidence drawn from both surveys and indepth interviews with gay men in Sydney.
To investigate willingness to use HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and the likelihood of decre... more To investigate willingness to use HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and the likelihood of decreased condom use among Australian gay and bisexual men. A national, online cross-sectional survey was conducted in April to May 2011. Bivariate relationships were assessed with χ2 or Fisher's exact test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess independent relationships with primary outcome variables. Responses from 1161 HIV-negative and untested men were analysed. Prior use of antiretroviral drugs as PrEP was rare (n=6). Just over a quarter of the sample (n=327; 28.2%) was classified as willing to use PrEP. Willingness to use PrEP was independently associated with younger age, having anal intercourse with casual partners (protected or unprotected), having fewer concerns about PrEP and perceiving oneself to be at risk of HIV. Among men who were willing to use PrEP (n=327), only 26 men (8.0%) indicated that they would be less likely to use condoms if using PrEP...
We assessed interest in using rectal microbicides to prevent HIV transmission among gay men in Au... more We assessed interest in using rectal microbicides to prevent HIV transmission among gay men in Australia. A national online survey was conducted in 2013. Interest in using rectal microbicides was measured on a seven-item scale (α=0.81). Factors independently associated with greater interest in using a microbicide were identified using multivariate logistic regression. Data were collected from 1223 HIV-negative and untested men. Mean age was 31.3 years (SD=10.8, range 18-65); 77% were born in Australia and 25% reported any condomless anal sex with a casual partner in the previous 6 months. Overall, there was moderate interest in using rectal microbicides (M=3.33, range 1-5). In multivariate analysis, greater interest in using microbicides was independently associated with being born outside Australia (adjusted OR (AOR)=1.59; p=0.009), greater self-perceived likelihood of becoming HIV positive (AOR=3.40; p<0.001), less uncertainty about the efficacy of microbicides (AOR=0.65; p=0.0...
We assessed attitudes to medicines, HIV treatments and antiretroviral-based prevention in a natio... more We assessed attitudes to medicines, HIV treatments and antiretroviral-based prevention in a national, online survey of 1,041 Australian gay men (88.3 % HIV-negative and 11.7 % HIV-positive). Multivariate analysis of variance was used to identify the effect of HIV status on attitudes. HIV-negative men disagreed with the idea that HIV drugs should be restricted to HIV-positive people. HIV-positive men agreed and HIV-negative men disagreed that taking HIV treatments was straightforward and HIV-negative men were more sceptical about whether HIV treatment or an undetectable viral load prevented HIV transmission. HIV-negative and HIV-positive men had similar attitudes to pre-exposure prophylaxis but divergent views about ‘treatment as prevention’.
Research indicates that the incidence of hepatitis C (HCV) among HIV-positive men who have sex wi... more Research indicates that the incidence of hepatitis C (HCV) among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) is increasing. Although injecting drug use remains the predominant means of transmission of HCV in the developed world, there is evidence of sexual transmission of HCV among MSM. Stigma associated with HCV has been shown to negatively impact HCV testing and health-seeking behaviour. There is little research that addresses attitudes towards HCV testing among this population. The current exploratory study focussed on HCV knowledge, HCV testing, sexual practices, perceptions of HCV risk and attitudes towards people with HCV among Australian MSM. The sample consisted of 590 men who completed an online survey. The findings suggest that attitudinal factors related to HCV were associated with HCV testing behaviour. The more negatively respondents felt about people with HCV, the less likely they were to have ever had an HCV test. Behavioural risk factors related to sexual practices (i.e. is condom use and sexual risk activities) were not associated with HCV testing. Testing for HCV was associated with HIV-positive status, more knowledge about HCV and a greater likelihood of ever having injected drugs. The attitudes of MSM towards those who inject drugs are negative, mirroring that of society more generally. Furthermore, these attitudes, coupled with a lack of knowledge of the risk of sexual transmission of HCV among gay men, especially those who are HIV-positive, may act to prevent routine HCV testing among some MSM at potential risk of acquiring HCV.
Objective: To consider how issues of sexual practice, risk and clinical technologies are negotiat... more Objective: To consider how issues of sexual practice, risk and clinical technologies are negotiated in serodiscordant regular relationships between gay men. Method: Key findings from the international literature on the psycho-social experience of serodiscordant relationships are offered along with evidence drawn from both surveys and indepth interviews with gay men in Sydney.
Executive Summary The Seroconversion Study collects both quantitative and qualitative data from m... more Executive Summary The Seroconversion Study collects both quantitative and qualitative data from mainly homosexual men who have recently been diagnosed with HIV. Men are referred to the online questionnaire through clinics and HIV organizations providing services to men who are newly diagnosed. Men completing the online questionnaire volunteer for the more extended depth interview. To date, there have been 155 completed questionnaires, across five states, including over twenty who have also completed depth interviews. Summary of findings thus far The average age of respondents is 37, and in most other respects the men in the study appear to be very similar demographically and in terms of their social engagement with other gay men, to most other samples of gay men. Almost half reported that the high risk event which they believe led to their HIV infection included group sex, and although the majority of high risk events occurred at home about a third had met the partner who they belie...
Of the 1521 people who responded to the survey, 700 (46%) responded to some or all of the 10 open... more Of the 1521 people who responded to the survey, 700 (46%) responded to some or all of the 10 open-ended questions in the survey. These questions covered: the content of relationship agreements; communication strategies with partners (including communication about sex, sexually transmissible infections and HIV); the positive and negative aspects of relationships; and the most important issues for gay men in relationships in general. As negotiation of relationship agreements was a central feature of the survey, participants were also asked if they or their partner had ever broken a sexual agreement and, if so, how the breach was dealt with. The analysis presented here specifically focuses on the content, negotiation and function of relationship agreements, communication between partners, responses to breaches of agreements, and what men considered to be the key issues for contemporary gay relationships. The written responses were read to identify patterns, inconsistencies and themes. ...
People who are new to injecting are at the highest risk of acquiring blood-borne viruses, and cer... more People who are new to injecting are at the highest risk of acquiring blood-borne viruses, and certain other characteristics, such as sexual identity, have been known to further heighten this risk. We investigate whether disadvantaged drug-using young people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or who identify as other sexual identity (GLBO) are more likely to have ever injected drugs compared with their heterosexual peers. Convenience sampling was employed across 15 youth services in metropolitan Sydney. Respondents were required to be 16-24 years of age, to have used an illicit drug, to have been exposed to injecting through social networks and been socially disadvantaged in the past 12 months. Participants self-completed a survey using touch screen laptops. In a sample of 250 young people, GLBO participants more commonly reported ever injecting drugs [37.1%, confidence interval (CI) 21.5-55.1% vs. 12.3%, CI 8.1-17.4%] or injecting drugs in the past 12 months [31.4%, CI 16.9-49.3% vs. 5.7%, CI 2.9-9.6%] compared with participants who identified as heterosexual. The higher rates of injecting among GLBO young people found in this sample advocates for the development of targeted prevention strategies for this group. Utilising existing networks in GLBO communities could be one strategy to limit the transition to injecting drug use and reduce the risk of drug-related harms among this group. [Wilson H, Bryant J, Ellard J, Howard J, Treloar C. Sexual identity and its relationship to injecting in a sample of disadvantaged young drug users. Drug Alcohol Rev 2015].
This paper investigates drug use, knowledge of hepatitis C, and risk minimisation amongst partici... more This paper investigates drug use, knowledge of hepatitis C, and risk minimisation amongst participants of the Sydney inner city dance party/club scene. The aim is to identify factors that contribute to the limited success of hepatitis C education and prevention efforts in Australia and to suggest ways in which they might be improved. The method used was a thematic analysis of 31 semi-structured qualitative interviews with people drawn from the Sydney inner city dance party/club scene. This is a scene where the consumption of recreational drugs is normalised, and where the practice of injecting takes place, albeit less commonly to other routes of administration. In the material presented here, drugs are seen as sources of enjoyment and experimentation, but are not seen as necessary to the functioning of daily life. Indeed, dependency on drugs is largely seen as undesirable. Most participants consider themselves to be both well informed about the drugs they use, and in control of thei...
Timely HIV testing among recently HIV-infected gay men may enable earlier access to clinical care... more Timely HIV testing among recently HIV-infected gay men may enable earlier access to clinical care and changes in behaviour that will reduce onward transmission. We investigated the testing practices of men recently diagnosed with HIV to identify factors associated with recent testing. In an online survey of men in Australia recently diagnosed with HIV, participants were asked about their HIV testing history, perceived impediments to testing prior to diagnosis, motivation for testing at the time of diagnosis and a range of demographic and behavioural characteristics. Descriptive statistics were used to compare those men who reported recent HIV testing with those men who had not tested for HIV in the 12 months before their diagnosis. Of 187 men who provided information about their testing history and social connectedness, 6.4% were previously untested for HIV, whereas 65.8% had last tested within the 12 months prior to their diagnosis. Factors associated with having tested more recent...
While numerous studies have examined characteristics of young people who have recently initiated ... more While numerous studies have examined characteristics of young people who have recently initiated injecting, little attention has focused on young people who may be at high risk of transitioning to injecting. This study sought to examine the extent that socially disadvantaged young people were exposed to injecting, determine their level of hepatitis C (HCV) knowledge and identify correlates of higher injecting exposure. A cross-sectional survey was administered to 210 young people in 2010-2011 who were exposed to injecting drug use, but had not transitioned to injecting. Respondents were primarily recruited from youth services in metropolitan Sydney. Exposure to injecting in the previous 12 months was assessed with four items that examined whether close friends, romantic/sexual partners or family members/acquaintances injected drugs, and whether they were offered an injection. Most respondents had at least a few close friends who injected drugs (65%) and almost half had been offered ...
Background In recent years, there has been increasing evidence that early initiation of antiretro... more Background In recent years, there has been increasing evidence that early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) may provide health benefits for those infected with HIV. There has also been significant discussion about the role of HIV treatment in preventing onward transmission of the virus. Early provision and uptake of ART to people recently diagnosed with HIV could achieve both individual and public health outcomes. The success of such an initiative relies, in part, on the preparedness of those recently diagnosed with HIV to engage with the therapy. The HIV Seroconversion Study collects both quantitative and qualitative data from people in Australia who have recently been diagnosed with HIV. During 2011-2012, 53 gay or bisexual men recruited across Australia took part in semistructured interviews as part of the study. The men were asked about their knowledge and experience of, and their decisions about whether or not to commence, HIV treatment. The interviews identified differing levels of knowledge about HIV treatments and divergent views about the health and prevention benefits of ART. For some, treatments provided a sense of control over the virus; others were apprehensive and distrustful, and preferred to resist commencing treatments for as long as possible. If early initiation of treatment is to be encouraged, appropriate measures must be in place to ensure recently diagnosed individuals have access to the appropriate information and the support they need to enable them to make informed choices and, if necessary, to address their fears.
Despite recognition of the benefits of involving consumers in their own treatment, there is littl... more Despite recognition of the benefits of involving consumers in their own treatment, there is little research on consumer participation in drug treatment. This paper focuses on clients who use illicit substances and the role of consumer participation in their self-reported satisfaction with their drug treatment and sense of goal achievement in that treatment. As part of a secondary analysis, the data from 492 participants who had previously or who were currently engaged in drug treatment were analysed to assess the importance of consumer participation in drug treatment. Participants who had a history of opiate or psychostimulant use were recruited at various treatment services and health care facilities for drug users located in five urban and rural/regional sites in Australia. They were asked to complete an interviewer-assisted questionnaire assessing a range of variables including five questions about consumer participation. Findings from this study illustrate that clients&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; opportunity to participate in drug treatment is independently associated with greater satisfaction with drug treatment and a greater sense of achievement of treatment goals. This research provides evidence to support the importance of consumer activity in drug treatment and should encourage drug treatment programs to afford clients appropriate levels of consumer participation.
Increasing international mobility presents a risk for communicable disease transmission. Overseas... more Increasing international mobility presents a risk for communicable disease transmission. Overseas-acquired HIV infections have been increasingly observed across Australian jurisdictions. This includes a mix of men emigrating from countries with high HIV prevalence and men travelling abroad. There is currently little research exploring international mobility and HIV risk, and as a consequence the increase of men acquiring HIV while travelling overseas is poorly understood. This paper draws on data from a qualitative study exploring the risk perspectives and experiences of 14 Australian men who acquired HIV while travelling overseas in the years between 2000 and 2009. Participants articulated a strong desire to distance themselves from the identity of a tourist. Social networks were highlighted as important entry points to engage with other foreign travellers and expatriates. These networks were highly influential and were understood by the participants to provide guidance on how they should negotiate the local scene, including where to meet sex partners. Limited discussion of safe sex and HIV was mentioned in these contexts. The findings suggest that prevalent social norms and social networks play an influential role in how participants negotiate sex and social relations in overseas settings. These networks could potentially provide sites for effective HIV-prevention programmes.
Objective: To consider how issues of sexual practice, risk and clinical technologies are negotiat... more Objective: To consider how issues of sexual practice, risk and clinical technologies are negotiated in serodiscordant regular relationships between gay men. Method: Key findings from the international literature on the psycho-social experience of serodiscordant relationships are offered along with evidence drawn from both surveys and indepth interviews with gay men in Sydney.
To investigate willingness to use HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and the likelihood of decre... more To investigate willingness to use HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and the likelihood of decreased condom use among Australian gay and bisexual men. A national, online cross-sectional survey was conducted in April to May 2011. Bivariate relationships were assessed with χ2 or Fisher's exact test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess independent relationships with primary outcome variables. Responses from 1161 HIV-negative and untested men were analysed. Prior use of antiretroviral drugs as PrEP was rare (n=6). Just over a quarter of the sample (n=327; 28.2%) was classified as willing to use PrEP. Willingness to use PrEP was independently associated with younger age, having anal intercourse with casual partners (protected or unprotected), having fewer concerns about PrEP and perceiving oneself to be at risk of HIV. Among men who were willing to use PrEP (n=327), only 26 men (8.0%) indicated that they would be less likely to use condoms if using PrEP...
We assessed interest in using rectal microbicides to prevent HIV transmission among gay men in Au... more We assessed interest in using rectal microbicides to prevent HIV transmission among gay men in Australia. A national online survey was conducted in 2013. Interest in using rectal microbicides was measured on a seven-item scale (α=0.81). Factors independently associated with greater interest in using a microbicide were identified using multivariate logistic regression. Data were collected from 1223 HIV-negative and untested men. Mean age was 31.3 years (SD=10.8, range 18-65); 77% were born in Australia and 25% reported any condomless anal sex with a casual partner in the previous 6 months. Overall, there was moderate interest in using rectal microbicides (M=3.33, range 1-5). In multivariate analysis, greater interest in using microbicides was independently associated with being born outside Australia (adjusted OR (AOR)=1.59; p=0.009), greater self-perceived likelihood of becoming HIV positive (AOR=3.40; p<0.001), less uncertainty about the efficacy of microbicides (AOR=0.65; p=0.0...
We assessed attitudes to medicines, HIV treatments and antiretroviral-based prevention in a natio... more We assessed attitudes to medicines, HIV treatments and antiretroviral-based prevention in a national, online survey of 1,041 Australian gay men (88.3 % HIV-negative and 11.7 % HIV-positive). Multivariate analysis of variance was used to identify the effect of HIV status on attitudes. HIV-negative men disagreed with the idea that HIV drugs should be restricted to HIV-positive people. HIV-positive men agreed and HIV-negative men disagreed that taking HIV treatments was straightforward and HIV-negative men were more sceptical about whether HIV treatment or an undetectable viral load prevented HIV transmission. HIV-negative and HIV-positive men had similar attitudes to pre-exposure prophylaxis but divergent views about ‘treatment as prevention’.
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Papers by Jeanne Ellard