UPDATE: Priority actions to address HIV among viral and migrant communities. Following the development of the planned implementation document, CoPAHM has proposed 7 priority actions to address HIV among mobile and migrant communities. More information on these proposed priority actions can be found on the SiREN website. If you have feedback on the document, please email copahm@curtin.edu.au.

NEWS

SAVE THE DATE! The SiREN Symposium 2018: Connect, Learn, Apply. 17 & 18th May 2018, Perth. The third biennial SiREN Symposium will bring together practitioners, clinicians, researchers and policymakers with an interest in sexual health and blood borne virus (SHBBV) issues. The Symposium will provide opportunities to connect with others, learn about the latest projects and build skills in research, evaluation and knowledge translation. Abstracts are open from December 2017 and close on 28 February 2018. More information here.

Barriers to HIV testing among people born in sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia project. This project conducted focus groups with 77 migrants, alongside 11 interviews with general practitioners to identify the barriers to HIV testing and knowledge on HIV testing amongst people from these populations. More information on this project can be found on SiREN's website.

Annual Surveillance Report 2017. The Kirby Institute have released their annual report on HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs in Australia for 2017. The number of new HIV diagnoses in Australia has remained stable over the past five years, and the proportion of late diagnoses was higher in people born in Sub-Saharan Africa and South East Asia. More information on the report can be found on the Kirby website.

UNAIDS Right to Health. In the lead-up to World AIDS Day on December 1, this campaign publication explores the challenges people around the world face in exercising their right to health. View more on the UNAIDS website.

RESEARCH

Interventions for increasing HIV testing uptake in migrants: A systematic review of evidence Aung et al. (2017). An Australian study reviewed and evaluated interventions that aimed to increase HIV testing uptake in migrant populations. It found that integrating provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling into existing primary healthcare settings may create an enabling environment that encourages HIV testing uptake in migrant populations.The study also highlighted the need for interventions that address broader health system and structural factors that contribute to late HIV-diagnosis in migrant populations.

High levels of postmigration HIV acquisition within nine European countries by Alvarez-del Arco et al. (2017). A European study aimed to estimate the proportion of post-migration HIV acquisition among HIV-positive migrants in Europe. A cross-sectional study performed in HIV clinics found that post-migration HIV was 63%, with 72% among MSM, and 51% among heterosexual men and women. Factors affecting acquisition included age and length of stay in the host country.

Correlation between knowledge on transmission and prevention of HIV/STI and proficiency in condom use among male migrants from Africa and Middle East by Zoboli et al. (2017). An Italian study evaluated condom use skills in a migrant population recently arrived in Italy. Correct condom use was measured using a wooden penile model. The study revealed that educational levels influenced knowledge and awareness about STI/HIV, and contribute to correct condom use.