CoPAHM Updates

CoPAHM is preparing for a busy 2020. Stay tuned for more details!

New faces at CoPAHM

Sarah Emilie Tsin Sa Ah Vi is a fourth-year student studying nutrition and health promotion double degree at Curtin University. She is currently volunteering with CoPAHM developing a strategy for a more engaging Twitter account. 

In the news

Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland World AIDS Day Forum. A multicultural community forum was held on the 23rd of November 2019, with 54 people attending. For more information, and pictures, click here. 

Going somewhere? To address increasing HIV notifications occurring in WA amongst Australian-born men acquiring HIV overseas, WA Health launched a new campaign on World AIDS Day last year. You can access the campaign here. 

Reports

Summary report of key learnings from a scoping study of HIV testing in Australia. AFAO have conducted a scoping review of HIV testing in Australia to identify strategies to improve HIV testing among different sub-populations at risk of HIV. Results suggested that gay men have relatively high rates of testing, while testing rates of HIV among heterosexual Australians are low. The review identified a number of barriers to HIV testing for heterosexuals and overseas born gay men, including a low perception of risk and fears of testing positive. The report highlights new technologies and other opportunites to improve HIV testing. Read the report here.

Research

The role of mobility in sexual risk behaviour and HIV acquisition among sub-Saharan African migrants residing in two European cities. Dias et al explored sexual behaviour and HIV acquisition among sub-Saharan African migrants in Portugal and Belgium, and assessed post-migration mobility as a determinant of sexual risk behaviour. The study found that the odds of condomless sex in the host country was five times higher when the last sexual intercourse abroad was also condomless. The authors recommend a transnational perspective on HIV prevention and sexual health promotion. Access the full article here.

Time, population mobility, and HIV transmission. A commentary by Cassels concludes that our ability to identify how population mobility will influence HIV transmissions will impact the effectiveness of HIV interventions. Prospective study designs or mathematical models of HIV transmission dynamics are recommended to better understand the effects of population mobility on HIV transmission. Read the full article here.

Knowledge, information needs and behavior regarding HIV and sexually transmitted infections among migrants from sub-Saharan Africa living in Germany: Results of a participatory health research survey. Koschollek et al conducted a cross-sectional survey with 2,432 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa living in Germany. Findings suggested good knowledge on HIV, but that a number of groups had less knowledge, including recent migrants, and migrants without access to health care system. The authors conclude that future HIV prevention interventions should focus on the sub-groups with knowledge gaps. Access the full article here.