Evaluation of an ethnic media campaign on patterns of HIV testing among people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in Australia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a 2-week pilot ethnic media campaign that was implemented in 14 languages to promote awareness of HIV/AIDS and HIV testing among selected non-English speaking populations in Australia in November/December 2000.


METHODS
The main outcome measure was clinic attendances for the purpose of HIV testing by individuals from the target populations at one ofthree public sexual health clinics in Sydney and Melbourne prior to and immediately after the campaign.


RESULTS
The number of HIV tests on members of the 14 target language communities attending the clinics almost doubled from 66 to 122 tests. However, as a proportion of the total number of HIV tests performed at the three clinics this increase was not significant (16.3-18.8%; P = 0.31). For both periods in 2000 the proportion of HIV tests that were performed on members of the target language group were higher than during a 1999 comparison period (10.5%, both P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
This study did not demonstrate a significant increase in testing attributable to the pilot intervention. A larger campaign, with a more extensive evaluation, would probably be needed to demonstrate a measurable effect.
McMahon
Tadgh
T
Multicultural HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C Service, PO Box M139, Missenden Road, NSW 2050, Australia. mcmaht@email.cs.nsw.gov.au
Fairley
Christopher K
CK
Donovan
Basil
B
Wan
Lilian
L
Quin
John
J
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D003146:Communications Media; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects