Early diagnosis of HIV among men who have sex with men in Western Australia: impact of a peer-led sexually transmissible infection testing service
Byron C. Minas A C , Carolien M. Giele A , Sue C. Laing A , Lisa Bastian A , Andrew W. Burry B , Kurt J. Sales B and Donna B. Mak A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Communicable Disease Control Directorate, Department of Health Western Australia, PO Box 8172, Perth Business Centre, WA 6849, Australia.
B M Clinic, Western Australian AIDS Council, PO Box 1510 West Perth, WA 6872, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: byron.minas@health.wa.gov.au
Sexual Health 12(4) 360-363 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH14214
Submitted: 6 November 2014 Accepted: 16 March 2015 Published: 25 May 2015
Abstract
Background: In July 2010, the Western Australian AIDS Council established the ‘M Clinic’, a peer-led STI testing service for MSM. This study describes trends in HIV notifications among MSM in WA from 2004 to 2013, particularly the impact of the M Clinic on newly acquired HIV diagnoses. Methods: The number and proportion of MSM HIV cases with newly acquired infection were compared for the 2004–2006, 2007–2009 and 2011–2013 time periods. Data from 2010 were excluded as the M Clinic opened in July 2010. Results: Between the 2004–2006 and 2007–2009 periods, the number of MSM with newly acquired HIV increased by 50% (23 to 33 cases) and the number of newly acquired cases as a proportion of all new HIV diagnoses among MSM increased from 27% to 35% (30% increase) (P = 0.25). In the 2011–2013 period, the number of newly acquired HIV cases among MSM more than doubled to 70 cases and comprised 53% of all new HIV diagnoses among MSM (P < 0.05). Of the 70 newly acquired HIV cases in the 2011–2013 period, 30% (n = 21) were diagnosed at the M Clinic. Conclusions: The proportion of MSM HIV notifications that were newly acquired increased between 2004 and 2013 in WA, with the greatest increase seen after the M Clinic commenced operation. A peer-led approach to HIV testing should be considered in order to achieve early diagnosis and treatment of HIV among MSM.
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