39. MAYISHA NZ: TOWARDS AN EVIDENCE BASE TO INFORM HIV PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS IN NEW ZEALANDS MIGRANT AFRICAN COMMUNITIES

Abstract

The second social group most affected by HIV in New Zealand is that of the migrant African communities. As is the case in many resource-rich countries, the number of new HIV diagnoses assumed to have occurred through heterosexual sex has now caught up with those new diagnoses assumed to have occurred through men who have sex with men (MSM). While there is good behavioural surveillance of HIV-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviour (KAB) in New Zealand's MSM population (the GAPSS Surveys), there is very little data available on African migrant communities to provide an evidence base with which informed decisions can be made regarding HIV primary and secondary prevention interventions within these communities.

The Mayisha I and II Projects in the UK have been successful in developing community based research collaborations that have resulted in valuable HIV-related KAB data being obtained from their migrant African communities. Such a model of working is now being developed within New Zealand.

This paper reviews the UK Mayisha models and how such behavioural surveillance data is being utilised by HIV prevention stakeholders in the UK. It then describes how the model is being modified and developed within the New Zealand context.