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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 3(1)

Estimating population distribution and HIV prevalence among homosexual and bisexual men

Daniel Madeddu A , Andrew Grulich C , Juliet Richters B , Jason Ferris B , Jeffrey Grierson B , Anthony Smith D , Brent Allan D and Garrett Prestage A E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.

B Australian Research Centre in Sex Health and Society, LaTrobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.

C National Centre in HIV Social Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.

D Victorian AIDS Council/Gay Men’s Health Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3141, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: gprestage@nchecr.unsw.edu.au

Sexual Health 3(1) 37-43 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH05034
Submitted: 7 June 2005  Accepted: 13 September 2005   Published: 20 February 2006

Abstract

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.

Additional keywords: bisexuality, gay men, homosexuality, population size, sex behaviour.


Acknowledgements

The National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, the National Centre in HIV Social Research and the Australian Research Centre in Sex Health and Society are funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.


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