Women in contact with the Perth gay and lesbian community: Report of the Women’s Western Australian Sexual Health (WWASH) Survey 2010 and 2012

Abstract

First conducted in Sydney in 1996 and run in February every two years since,(3-8) the Sydney Women and Sexual Health (SWASH) survey is the longest running and only regular survey of LBQ women’s health and wellbeing in Australia (and probably the world). The Women’s Western Australian Sexual Health (WWASH) version of this survey was run in October 2010 and 2012. The survey covered sexual health (sexual practices, STI testing and diagnosis, Pap smears); tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use; experiences of domestic violence, sexual coercion, and anti-LGBTQ behaviour; and self-report measures of physical and mental health. With a focus on LBQ women’s health, the long-running SWASH survey and the more recent WWASH survey provide a much needed local evidence base to inform best practice in healthcare and prevention for chronic diseases, mental health and wellbeing, sexual and reproductive health, and ageing.

This report presents results from the 2012 survey with 2010 data presented to provide a comprehensive picture of the health and wellbeing of women engaged with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) communities in Perth. Slight changes in sampling and questions between iterations mean that differences between the years cannot be attributed solely to change over time. We make note of changes in questions, and years when particular questions were not asked.