High levels of engagement with testing for HIV and sexually transmissible infection among gay Asian men in Sydney and Melbourne: an observational study
Danielle Murray A N , Limin Mao B , T.-H. (Horas) Wong B , Tim Chen C , Brent Mackie C , Shih-Chi Kao D E , Azizul Haque Mahee F , Jeffrey Dabbhadatta G , Priyadi Prihaswan E , Gabrielle Stackpool H , Megan Brooks I , Graham Brown J and David Lewis K L MA Kingston Hospital, Kingston upon Thames, KT2 7QB, UK.
B Centre for Social Research in Health, Level 3, John Goodsell Building, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
C ACON, 414 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia.
D Pozhet NSW (Heterosexual HIV Service), Sydney Local Health District Population Health, 18 Marsden Street, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
E HIV and Related Programs Unit, South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, 301 Forbes Street, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia.
F HIV and Related Programs Health Promotion Service, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Waranara Building, Eastern Campus, Locked Mail Bag 7279, Liverpool BC NSW 1871, Australia.
G HIV and Related Programs, Western Sydney Local Health District, Level 3, Jeffrey House, 162 Marsden Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150, Australia.
H Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service, Level 2, 18 Marsden Street, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
I HIV and Related Programs, Population Health, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Bangala Building, Eastern Campus, Liverpool Hospital, Locked Mail Bag 7279, Liverpool BC NSW 1871, Australia.
J Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Building NR6, Bundoora, Vic. 3086, Australia.
K Western Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Level 4, Jeffrey House, 162 Marsden Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150, Australia.
L University of Sydney, Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Westmead Hospital, Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
M Marie Bashir Institute for Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, University of Sydney, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, 176 Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.
N Corresponding author. Email: danielle.murray9@nhs.net
Sexual Health 17(2) 121-128 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH18216
Submitted: 27 November 2018 Accepted: 26 August 2019 Published: 3 March 2020
Abstract
Background: Gay and other men who have sex with men of Asian background (GAM) have been identified as a key population in efforts to eradicate HIV in New South Wales. The aims of the present study were to evaluate current levels of engagement with HIV and sexually transmissible infection (STI) testing services, assess knowledge of pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis and to identify factors associated with service engagement in this group. Methods: A survey of 604 GAM residing in Sydney and Melbourne was undertaken. Results: The data identified that a significant proportion of non-HIV-positive men (i.e. HIV-negative men and men whose HIV status was unknown) surveyed (n = 567; 93.9%) had engaged in frequent HIV testing and comprehensive STI testing in the 12 months prior to the survey (n = 180; 31.7%). There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in sexual practices at the bivariate level between those who reported frequent and comprehensive HIV/STI testing and those who did not. Those who tested regularly were substantially more sexually active, were more likely to have multiple partners (P = 0.001) and were more likely to engage in condomless anal intercourse with both casual (P < 0.001) and regular (P = 0.002) partners. Those who engaged with testing initiatives were more likely to discuss HIV status with both regular (P = 0.008) and casual (P < 0.001) partners, and identified more reasons to test than their counterparts (P < 0.001). The data also highlighted key service venues, with gay men most likely to have used public sexual health clinics (46.9%) as their most recent testing venue. Conclusions: The data demonstrate an association between high levels of male-to-male sexual activity and engagement in frequent and comprehensive HIV and STI testing. This likely derives from both self-perceived notions of risk and current reliance on established gay community organisations to convey information around testing. Increasing engagement with testing initiatives beyond GAM who self-identify as being at high HIV and STI risk will require the use of novel routes by which to disseminate this information.
Additional keywords: Australia, homosexual, men who have sex with men, New South Wales, Victoria.
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