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Changes in Gay Men’s Participation in Gay Community Life: Implications for HIV Surveillance and Research

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Abstract

Successful antiretroviral treatments, achievements in gay acceptance and human rights, and internet use have prompted changes in gay socialising which create potential challenges for engaging with gay men for HIV surveillance and research. We used data from the Australian behavioural surveillance and explored (i) the relationship between community engagement and HIV related practices, and (ii) time trends in gay men’s engagement with the gay community. Analyses were conducted using log-binomial regression and chi-square test for trend. The proportion of men who socialized mainly with gay men declined and the Internet use to connect with sex partners increased over time. Gay social engagement was associated with HIV positive serostatus, unprotected anal intercourse with regular partners and a high frequency of HIV/STI testing. Our findings indicate a shift in how gay men socialise and find partners. We discuss the challenges for ongoing engagement with gay men for behavioural surveillance and HIV research.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the key community partners the state-based AIDS councils and PLWHA organizations in each state for being instrumental in the conduct of the gay community periodic surveys. Many thanks go to all study participants for sharing their life experiences with the research team. We are also grateful for the financial support which made this study possible. The National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research and the National Centre in HIV Social Research are funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. Gay Community Periodic Survey in NSW was funded by the New South Wales Health Department., in Victoria—by Victorian Department of Health, in Queensland—by Queensland Health, in Western Australia—by the Department of Health Western Australia, in South Australia—by the Department of Health South Australia, and in ACT—by AIDS Council of ACT.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052, Australia

    Iryna B. Zablotska & Garrett Prestage

  2. National Centre in HIV Social Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2052, Australia

    Martin Holt

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  1. Iryna B. Zablotska
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  2. Martin Holt
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  3. Garrett Prestage
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Correspondence to Iryna B. Zablotska.

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Zablotska, I.B., Holt, M. & Prestage, G. Changes in Gay Men’s Participation in Gay Community Life: Implications for HIV Surveillance and Research. AIDS Behav 16, 669–675 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-9919-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-9919-9

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