Register      Login
Sexual Health Sexual Health Society
Publishing on sexual health from the widest perspective
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > SH > SH05034
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.


References


[1] Grulich A,  Smith A,  de Visser R,  Rissel C,  Richters J. Sex in Australia: homosexual experience and recent homosexual encounters. Aust NZ J Public Health 2003; 27(2): 155–63.
| PubMed |

[2] Johnson I. Under reporting: reader views. Sydney: Sydney Star Observer; 1 July 2004.

[3] Johnson I. Counting heads. Sydney: Sydney Star Observer; 17 July 2003.

[4] Gay activists rip survey. Canada: Cnews; 15 June 2004.

[5] New South Wales Health Department. New South Wales Public Health Bulletin, Vol. 14. . Sydney; 9–10 September–October 2003.

[6] National Centre In HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research. Australian HIV Surveillance Report, Vol. 20. Sydney; April 2004.

[7] McInnes D,  Dowsett G. Redefining impact: understanding the long-term effects of HIV/AIDS on Australia’s gay communities. Natl AIDS Bull 1995; 9(4).


[8] McDonald A , editor. HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia: Annual Surveillance Report 2003. Sydney: National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research; 2003.

[9] Van de Ven P,  Rawstorne P,  Crawford J,  Kippax S. Increasing proportions of Australian gay and homosexually active men engage in unprotected anal intercourse with regular and casual partners. AIDS Care 2002; 14(3).


[10] Van de Ven P , Rawstorne P , Treloar C , Richters J , editors. HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C & related diseases in Australia: Annual Report of Behaviour 2003. Sydney: National Centre in HIV Social Research; 2003.

[11] Smith A,  Rissell C,  Richters J,  Grulich A,  de Visser R. Sex in Australia: the rationale and methods of the Australian Study of Health and Relationships. Aust NZ J Public Health 2003; 27(2).


[12] Smith A,  Rissell C,  Richters J,  Grulich A,  de Visser R. Sex in Australia: a guide for readers. Aust NZ J Public Health 2003; 27(2).


[13] Kippax S,  Campbell D,  Ven de Ven P,  Crawford J,  Prestage G,  Knox S, et al. Cultures of sexual adventurism as markers of HIV seroconversion: a case control study in a cohort of Sydney gay men. AIDS Care 1998; 10(6): 677–88.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[14] Anderson J,  Stall R.. Increased reporting of male to male sexual activity in a national survey. Sex Transm Dis 2002; 29(11): 643–6.
| PubMed |

[15] Copas A,  Wellings K,  Erens B,  Mercer C,  McManus S,  Fenton K, et al. The accuracy of reported sensitive sexual behaviour in Britain: exploring the extent of chance 1990–2000. Sex Transm Infect 2002; 78 26–30.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[16] ACSF Investigators AIDS and sexual behaviour in France. Nature 1992; 360 407–9.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[17] Hull P , Ven de Ven P , Prestage G , Rawstorne P , Grulich A , Crawford J et al Gay Community Periodic Survey: Sydney 1996–2002. Sydney: National Centre in HIV Social Research; 2002.

[18] Prestage G , Van de Ven P , Knox S , Grulich A , Kippax S , Crawford J . The Sydney Gay Community Periodic Surveys 1996–1999: changes over time. Sydney: National Centre in HIV Social Research; 1999.

[19] Van de Ven P,  Prestage G,  Knox S,  Kippax S. Gay men in Australia who do not have HIV test results. Int J STD AIDS 2000; 11 456–60.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[20] Dunne M , Wiederman M, Whitley B Jr, editors. Sampling considerations: handbook for conducting research on human sexuality. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; 2002.

[21] Low-Beer S,  Bartholomew K,  Weber A,  Chan K,  Landolt M,  Oram D, et al. A demographic and health profile of gay and bisexual men in a large Canadian urban setting. AIDS Care 2002; 14(1).
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[R22] Black, D, Gates, G, Sanders, S and  Taylor, L. (2000) A demographic and health profile of gay and bisexual men in a large Canadian urban setting.

[23] Harry J. Sampling gay men. J Sex Res 1986; 22(1).


[24] Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2001 Census of Population and Housing: 2001 Census Basic Community Profiles and Snapshots – Postal Areas – NSW POAs’. Belconnen, ACT; 2001.

[25] Smith A,  Rissel C,  Richters J,  Grulich A,  de Visser R. Sex in Australia: sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual experience among a representative sample of adults. J Public Health (Bangkok) 2003; 27(2).


[26] Van de Ven P,  Rodden P,  Crawford J,  Kippax S.. A comparative demographic and sexual profile of older homosexually active men. J Sex Res 1997; 34(4): 349–60.


[27] Van de Ven P,  Kippax S,  Crawford J,  Rodden P.. Injecting drug use and knowledge and self-report of hepatitis C among Australian gay and homosexually active men. Drug Alcohol Rev 1999; 18(3): 271–7.


[28] March I , Levy S . Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Economic Impact Study 1998. Report; 1998.

[29] Pisani E . Estimating the Size of Populations at Risk for HIV: Issues and Methods. UNAIDS/IMPACT/FHI workshop report; 2002.

[30] Prestage G,  Drielsma P. Indicators of male bisexual activity in semi-metropolitan New South Wales: Implications for HIV prevention strategies. Aust N Z J Public Health 1996; 20(4): 386–92.
| PubMed |

[31] Kinsey AC , Pomeroy WB , Martin CE . (1953). Sexual behavior in the human male (11th ed.). Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company (Original work published 1948: 639).