CoPAHM Updates

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New team member at CoPAHM. Karina Reeves is a final year student studying a Bachelor of Science (Health Promotion) at Curtin University. She joins the team as the project administrator, where her role includes writing the e-news and tweeting all things HIV and Mobility from the CoPAHM Twitter.

CoPAHM WA. The CoPAHM WA is looking for individuals who are interested in working in collaboration to identify and progress research and action on HIV and Mobility. Priority populations include international students, travellers and migrants and refugees. If you are interested in being involved, or know someone who might be, email Corie at copahm@curtin.edu.au.

International Student Sexual Health Survey. CoPAHM WA are conducting research into international student's sexual health knowledge, behaviour and use of sexual health services. Student researchers will be conducting a scoping review, which will inform the development of a tool to investigate the topic later on in the year. For more information, email copahm@curtin.edu.au 

Modes of administering sexual health and blood-borne virus surveys in migrant populations: A scoping review. The study aimed to collate the available information about how sexual health and blood-borne virus (SHBBV) surveys have been administered in migrant populations, and the effect that this mode of administration has on data quality, reliability and other practical considerations. Strengths and limitations of all administration modes are summarised, and guidelines to inform future SHBBV survey research in migrant populations are presented. Access the study here.

Investigation into knowledge, attitudes and practices surrounding sexual health and HIV transmission among Australian born men living or travelling in Southeast Asia. Curtin University student Llewelyn Beecham-Clark is undertaking a Master of Public Health. For his research dissertation, Llewelyn is developing a survey to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices surrounding sexual health and HIV transmission among Australian born men living or travelling in Southeast Asia. To complete this research, Llewelyn is aiming to engage with both experts on the research topic as well as members of the target population to test the survey. Llewelyn will be recruiting participants for this study soon - stay tuned for more details. 

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International Student Sexual Health Survey. CoPAHM WA are conducting research into international student's sexual health knowledge, behaviour and use of sexual health services. Student researchers will be conducting a scoping review, which will inform the development of a tool to investigate the topic later on in the year.

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In the News

HIV2020 - A Community led Conference. The HIV2020 Conference has taken a new format this year, and will be delivered fully online between July and October. Sessions will range from topics such as increasing funding for community-led responses to HIV; to linking HIV with broader health and human rights movements. The HIV2020 conference will conclude by sharing learnings and highlights from the virtual event on World AIDS Day 2020 in December. All virtual sessions offered will be free and made available as recordings. Register here. 

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COVID-19 and HIV Fact Sheet. NAPWHA has collaborated with Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) and Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) to produce a fact sheet with regularly updated information. This fact sheet answers questions and shares tips and referrals for HIV communities. The fact sheet can be accessed here.

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Flux Study Call for Participants. The University of New South Wales and the Kirby Institute are conducting research to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on Australian gay and bisexual men's ongoing risk of HIV and sexual and mental health. Gay and bisexual men living in Australia, who are over 18 years of age are encouraged to participate. Click here to access the study. 

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Journal of the International AIDS Society Special Edition. This special issue of JIAS showcases current thinking on how data can be used to support decision makers in deploying their resources to maximise the impact of primary HIV prevention programmes. Access the journal here. 

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HIV in Australia 2020 Snapshot. Each year, AFAO provides a snapshot of what HIV looks like in Australia. This resource provides the most up to date epidemiological data, presents Australia's progress on the UNAIDS 2020 Global Target, and provides a brief overview on HIV affected priority populations. Click here to view. 

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I-SHARE Study. I-SHARE (International Sexual Health And REproductive Health) is a series of studies which aim to investigate how different isolation measures implemented by governments across the world (in response to the COVID-19 pandemic) have affected family structures, relationships, and access to sexual and reproductive health services. If you are 18 years or older and reside in Australia, we strongly encourage you to participate here.

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Migrants left behind in HIV treatment cascade in Australia. There are important gaps in the HIV treatment cascade for migrant populations, according to a study investigating Australia's progress towards the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Fast-Track HIV targets. Although the overall cascade was high (90-90-95), this disguised an inequality where migrants' cascade was 85-85-93. The researchers recommend that monitoring of HIV diagnosis and the care cascades in all subpopulations is needed ensure that no one is being left behind, and that such monitoring is needed if the UNAIDS 90-90-90 target is to be reached. Read the article here.

 

Reports

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Summary report of key learnings from a scoping study of HIV testing in Australia. AFAO has conducted a scoping review of HIV testing in Australia to identify strategies to improve HIV testing among different sub-populations at risk of HIV. Results suggested that gay men have relatively high rates of testing, while testing rates of HIV among heterosexual Australians are low. The review identified a number of barriers to HIV testing for heterosexuals and overseas-born gay men, including a low perception of risk and fears of testing positive. The report highlights new technologies and other opportunities to improve HIV testing. Read the report here.

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Research

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The role of mobility in sexual risk behaviour and HIV acquisition among sub-Saharan African migrants residing in two European cities. Dias et al explored sexual behaviour and HIV acquisition among sub-Saharan African migrants in Portugal and Belgium, and assessed post-migration mobility as a determinant of sexual risk behaviour. The study found that the odds of condomless sex in the host country was five times higher when the last sexual intercourse abroad was also condomless. The authors recommend a transnational perspective on HIV prevention and sexual health promotion. Access the full article here.  

Time, population mobility, and HIV transmission. A commentary by Cassels concludes that our ability to identify how population mobility will influence HIV transmissions will impact the effectiveness of HIV interventions. Prospective study designs or mathematical models of HIV transmission dynamics are recommended to better understand the effects of population mobility on HIV transmission. Read the full article here. 

Knowledge, information needs and behavior regarding HIV and sexually transmitted infections among migrants from sub-Saharan Africa living in Germany: Results of a participatory health research survey. Koschollek et al conducted a cross-sectional survey with 2,432 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa living in Germany. Findings suggested good knowledge on HIV, but that a number of groups had less knowledge, including recent migrants, and migrants without access to health care system. The authors conclude that future HIV prevention interventions should focus on the sub-groups with knowledge gaps. Access the full article here.