Queensland Gay Periodic Survey researcher calls for PrEP as alternative to serosorting

GAY NEWS NETWORK
Andrew Shaw
Original Article:  bit.ly/1DfGBkg

The latest findings from the Queensland Gay Community Periodic Survey show gay and bisexual men continue to report high levels of HIV testing, but 15 per cent still say they have never been tested for HIV.

Conducted by the Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW, over 1,500 gay and bisexual men took part in the 2014 survey, recruited from gay venues and events in Brisbane and Cairns, as well as through online networks.

Men in Queensland continue to report quite high levels of casual sex without condoms – over 40 per cent of men who have casual sex say they have had sex without condoms at least once (or one in five of all men in the survey).

Men who have sex without condoms generally try to reduce the chance of transmission by discussing HIV status. HIV-negative men in particular are increasingly likely to report serosorting – limiting sex without condoms to men who they believe are HIV-negative.

Associate Professor Martin Holt, lead investigator of the surveys comments, “Unfortunately, some of these men may have HIV and not know it, increasing the chance of new infections. Before they consider relying on serosorting, HIV-negative men should start to test for HIV three or four times a year.

Full text of article available at link below:  bit.ly/1DfGBkg