RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 P557 ‘Flux NZ’: an online national cohort investigating HIV, STI and drug-related practices among new zealand gay and bisexual men
JF Sexually Transmitted Infections
JO Sex Transm Infect
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP A251
OP A251
DO 10.1136/sextrans-2019-sti.631
VO 95
IS Suppl 1
A1 Peter Saxton
A1 Mohamed Hammoud
A1 Samuel Andrews
A1 David Newcombe
A1 Anthony Walton
A1 Seb Stewart
A1 Ricky Te Akau
A1 Mark Fisher
A1 Kathryn Leafe
A1 Carl Greenwood
A1 J Green
A1 Garrett Prestage
YR 2019
UL http://sti.bmj.com/content/95/Suppl_1/A251.1.abstract
AB Background HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and chemsex present both opportunities and challenges for sexual health improvement among gay and bisexual men (GBM). However, there is scant evidence to inform responses in New Zealand (NZ), notably prevalence, uptake and cessation of behaviours over time. We sought a better understanding by recruiting a diverse national cohort of GBM.Methods Flux NZ is a national online prospective observational study investigating wellbeing among GBM in NZ. The protocol, questionnaire and data management system were based on a concurrent Australian study. Recruitment was predominantly via social media and community partners. Eligible participants were GBM living in NZ. We present baseline descriptions of PrEP, STI and illicit drug-related data among the cohort to date.Results The 315 participants are broadly reflective of the target population (10.8% identified as indigenous Maori, 59% lived outside Auckland the largest city, mean age 33.6 years (SD 15.6), 8.3% diagnosed HIV-positive). Among HIV-negative participants, 50% had heard “a lot” and 44% “a little” about PrEP; 18.2% were currently using PrEP. 57% of all participants had tested for STIs in the past 6 months; 7%, 5.7% and 3.2% were diagnosed with gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis respectively. Drug use in the past 6 months was 37.5% cannabis, 35.6% amyl, 17.5% MDMA, 5.1% methamphetamine, 4.8% LSD, 4.4% cocaine, 3.2% GHB, 2.5% amphetamine, 1.0% ketamine, 0.3% synthetic cannabis, 0% mephedrone, 0% heroin, and 1.9% other hallucinogens/psychedelics. “Any” drug use was 57.8% in the past 6 months and 78.7% ever. Of those using “party drugs” (MDMA, amphetamine, cocaine, methamphetamine, GHB, ketamine, LSD) recently, 29.2% had done so to enhance sex, the majority “once” (4.7%) or “a few times” (15.1%).Conclusion The Flux online cohort design effectively recruits GBM in NZ. This will enable comparative research of the impact of HIV, STI and drug harm reduction policies in the two countries.Disclosure No significant relationships.