COUNT: Community-based undiagnosed infection and HIV testing study

Gay and bisexual men remain the group primarily affected by HIV in Australia. People with undiagnosed HIV infection contribute disproportionately to HIV transmission in Australia.

Objective

This study will deliver HIV testing to gay and bisexual men in community settings (through the ongoing Gay Community Periodic Surveys Project through the Kirby Institute), provide test results to consenting participants and estimate the prevalence of HIV and undiagnosed HIV infection. It will contribute significantly to reducing the number of undiagnosed HIV infections in Australia and provide strategic knowledge to guide HIV prevention programs.

The study will provide previously unavailable estimates of the proportion of gay and bisexual men living with HIV, and help us identify how many of those men are unaware that they are HIV-positive. It will also give us important insight into the characteristics of men with undiagnosed HIV infection which will be used for the development of new HIV prevention policy and programs.

Timeline

Completed.

Recruitment

November, 2013

SpringOUT Festival, Canberra.

January, 2014

Midsumma Carnival, bars, clubs and sex-on-premises venues, Sydney
February 2014.

Mardi Gras Fair Day, bars, clubs and sex-on-premises venues, Sydney.

September 2014

Pride, bars, clubs and sex-on-premises venues, Brisbane.

November 2014

Feast Festival’s Picnic in the Park, bar and clubs, Adelaide.