Register      Login
Sexual Health Sexual Health Society
Publishing on sexual health from the widest perspective
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > SH > SH07101
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 5(2)

Health Care Services for men who have sex with men in different Australian states and territories since the emergence of HIV

Cathy Pell A D , Simon Donohoe B and Damian Conway C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Taylor Square Private Clinic, 393 Bourke St, Darlinghurst 2010, NSW, Australia.

B AFAO/NAPWA Education Team (ANET) and National A&TSI HIV/AIDS Sexual Health Project, PO Box 51, Newtown 2042, Australia.

C Education Division, Australasian Society for HIV Medicine, LMB 5057, Darlinghurst 1300, NSW, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: cpell@medemail.com.au

Sexual Health 5(2) 161-168 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH07101
Submitted: 30 December 2007  Accepted: 24 April 2008   Published: 2 June 2008

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe sexual health services available in Australia across the different states and territories for gay men and men who have sex with men (MSM) and their utilisation. An assessment of services available in different states is made, then the evidence about how MSM and people living with HIV/AIDS access health care in Australia is presented. This demonstrates that the number and location of sexual health services has changed over time. It also demonstrates that services available differ by state and territory. The availability of non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV infection has been different in each state and territory, as has its utilisation. The majority of care for sexual health-related issues and for MSM and people living with HIV/AIDS is delivered in general practice settings in Australia, with hospital outpatient settings, including sexual health clinics, utilised commonly.

Additional keywords: post-exposure prophylaxis, sexual health services.


Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge and thank all of the participants in the research cited above. We would like to thank the AIDS council officers Simon Yam, Paul Martin, Brian Morris, Colin Batrouney, Colin Burden and David Mills. We would like to thank Levinia Crooks for her review of drafts of the manuscript and advice about the Australian health system.


References


[1] Prestage G,  Jin F,  Zablotska IB,  Imrie J,  Kaldor JM,  Grulich AE. Trends in HIV prevalence among homosexual and bisexual men in eastern Australian states. Sex Health 2008; 5 103–7.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | [verified 20 December 2007].

[3] McDonald A, editor. HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections in Australia. Annual surveillance report. Sydney: University of New South Wales; Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2007.

[4] Bradford DL,  Philpot CR. A survey of sexually transmitted disease centres in Australia. Br J Vener Dis 1983; 59 330–4.
| PubMed | [verified 20 December 2007].

[7] Australasian Society for HIV Medicine. ASHM directory 2007–2008: HIV, hepatitis and related services. Surry Hills, NSW: Australasian Society for HIV Medicine; 2008. Available online at: http://www.ashm.org.au/ashm-directory/ [verified 20 December 2007].

[8] Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine. Register of public sexual health clinics in Australia and New Zealand. Sydney: Royal Australasian College of Physicians; 2007. Available online at: http://www.racp.edu.au [verified 20 December 2007].

[9] Marks C,  Tideman R,  Mindel A. Evaluation of sexual health services within Australia and New Zealand. Med J Aust 1997; 166 348–52.
| PubMed | [verified 12 December 2007].

[23] Poynten IM,  Smith DE,  Cooper DA,  Kaldor JM,  Grulich AE. The public health impact of widespread availability of non-occupational post exposure prophylaxis against HIV. HIV Med 2007; 8 374–81.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed | [verified 12 December 2007].

[25] Australasian Society for HIV Medicine. Literature review for the Australian guidelines for post-exposure prophylaxis after non-occupational exposure to HIV. ASHM J Club 2006; 8: 1 23 Available online at: http://www.ashm.org.au/uploads/File/jc-2006-10.pdf [verified 20 December 2007].

[26] Smith AM,  Rissel CE,  Richters J,  Grulich AE,  de Visser RO. Sex in Australia: sexual identity, sexual attraction and sexual experience among a representative sample of adults. Aust N Z J Public Health 2003; 27 138–45.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[27] Guy R,  McDonald AM,  Bartlett MJ,  Murray JC,  Giele CM,  Davey TM, et al. Characteristics of HIV diagnoses in Australia, 1993–2006. Sex Health 2008; 5 91–6.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[28] Combs BC , Giele C . Increasing heterosexual HIV notifications among non-Aboriginal people in Western Australia, 2002 to 2006. Sex Health, in press.

[29] Rissel CE,  Richters J,  Grulich AE,  de Visser RO,  Smith AM. Sex in Australia: attitudes towards sex in a representative sample of adults. Aust N Z J Public Health 2003; 27 118–23.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |

[30] Grulich AE,  de Visser RO,  Smith AM,  Rissel C,  Richters J. Sex in Australia: sexually transmissible infection and blood-borne virus history in a representative sample of adults. Aust N Z J Public Health 2003; 27 234–41.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |