“…not some young tourist”: The male overseas-acquired HIV social research study

Abstract

As with the trend in the rest of Australia, the majority of HIV diagnoses in Western Australia (WA) over the past 20 years have been amongst men who have sex with men in Australia. However, a differing trend seen more recently in WA has been the number of HIV diagnoses among heterosexual and homosexual men who acquired HIV while overseas compared to other states. The number of Western Australians acquiring HIV overseas has increased from 41 people in 2002-2004 to 91 people in 2005-2007. The upward trend of overseas acquired notifications continued in 2008-2009 (Combs and Giele 2009; DoH (WA) 2009). While the epidemiological data clearly showed an increase in overseas acquired HIV, there was little information on why the increase was occurring. The Male Overseas Acquired HIV Social Research Study investigated the social, cultural, behavioural and cognitive factors which may have contributed to the overseas-acquisition of HIV by male WA residents. The study used a qualitative approach to collecting and analysing data from in depth interviews with men who had acquired HIV while travelling or working overseas. The study was a joint project of the WA Centre for Health Promotion Research, National Centre in HIV Social Research, National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research and the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society and funded by the Western Australian Department of Health, Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Program. Men were recruited through the WA AIDS Council, Royal Perth Hospital, Fremantle Hospital, Northern Territory AIDS and Hepatitis Council and Clinic 34, Darwin. Fourteen men participated in the study during 2008 and 2009.