Cultural and linguistic diversity in many high-income countries including Australia is increasing, with more than one in four Australians being born overseas. Culturally and linguistically diverse populations (CALD) or ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in many countries with universal access to healthcare. Studies from the Australia, UK, USA and Canada suggest disparities in sexual health outcomes in CALD populations which persist even when controlling for sexual behaviour. Understanding service delivery issues for CALD populations is critical to the development and implementation of effective public health policy and health services. Enhanced HIV testing, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and treatment as prevention have been very effective in interrupting HIV transmission but people from CALD backgrounds especially men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to face difficulties in accessing these interventions. Lower knowledge of HIV risk factors, low perception of risk, stigma, and risky sexual risk behaviors may increase risk of HIV and STIs among CALD populations. Lack of awareness among healthcare workers regarding issues affecting CALD population also contributes to the challenges in providing effective health services. In the context of changes in HIV prevention landscape from condom promotion to biomedical approaches, sexual health services will benefit from taking culturally and linguistically sensitive approach in engaging and delivering HIV and STI care. Tailored approaches that effectively address cultural, language and gender issues to address inequalities in access and improve linkage, engagement and retention in care are needed for several CALD sub-populations, including MSM, sex workers, people who inject drugs, international students, refugees, and women. Failing to address these issues may lead to ongoing high rates of HIV transmission in these CALD subpopulations and have significant impact on achieving the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

Disclosure No significant relationships.