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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 4(1)

Rising HIV notifications in Australia: accounting for the increase in people living with HIV and implications for the HIV transmission rate

Samitha Ginige A B , Marcus Y. Chen A C , Jane S. Hocking C , Andrew E. Grulich D and Christopher K. Fairley A D E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, 580 Swanston Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia.

B Ministry of Health, No. 385, Rev Baddegama Wimalawansa Thero Mawatha Colombo 10, Sri Lanka.

C School of Population Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.

D National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of New South Wales, 376 Victoria Street, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: cfairley@unimelb.edu.au

Sexual Health 4(1) 31-33 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH06015
Submitted: 28 February 2006  Accepted: 21 August 2006   Published: 26 February 2007

Abstract

Background: To describe the changes in notification rates for HIV, as a proportion of people living with HIV infection, in Australia. Methods: Notification data on HIV and AIDS-related deaths published by the National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research were obtained and analysed for the period of 1988–2004. Results: The annual HIV notification rate per 100 people living with HIV fell significantly between 1988 and 1999 for all HIV cases and for men who have sex with men (MSM) specifically (P < 0.01). However, although there was an increase in HIV notifications between 2000 and 2004 (P = 0.01 for all HIV cases and P = 0.06 for MSM), the notification rate per 100 people living with HIV remained relatively stable (P = 0.6 for all HIV cases and P = 0.4 for MSM). Conclusions: These data suggest that despite significant rises in notifications for HIV, the effective reproductive rate for HIV has remained relatively stable since 1999.


Acknowledgements

M. C. and J. H. are supported by an NHMRC Fellowships (400399 and 359276 respectively). S. G. is supported by the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka.


References


[1] UNAIDS/WHO. 19E. AIDS epidemic update 2005. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2005.

[2] National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research. HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia: Annual Surveillance Report 2005. Sydney: National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research; 2005.

[3] National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research. HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia: Annual Surveillance Report 1997. Sydney: National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research; 1997.

[4] Rawstorne P , Treloar C , Richters J . HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia: Annual report of behaviour 2005. Monograph 3. Sydney: National Centre in HIV Social Research, The University of New South Wales; 2005.