Risk behaviour among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander gay men: comparisons with other gay men in Australia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine any differences in HIV-risk and drug-use behaviour among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander gay men and other gay men in Australia.


METHODS
The Gay Community Periodic Survey is a repeated cross-sectional prevalence study of the sexual and drug use behaviours of Australian gay men conducted since 1996. Responses from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) gay men were compared with those from non-ATSI gay men for the years 2000-2004.


RESULTS
Of 34 708 responses collected in major Australian cities over a 6-year period, 1208 identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. There was little difference between ATSI and non-ATSI men in the reported prevalence of HIV, though ATSI gay men were more likely than non-ATSI gay men to engage in unprotected anal intercourse with casual partners and to inject illicit drugs but were more likely to have been recently tested for HIV CONCLUSIONS: These ATSI gay men were at increased risk of HIV and other blood-borne viruses, though this may be due to differences in socio-economic status as much as cultural background. These findings indicate the continued need for targeted sexual and injecting-drug-use health interventions among this population.
Lawrence
Chris G
CG
National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
Rawstorne
Patrick
P
Hull
Peter
P
Grulich
Andrew E
AE
Cameron
Scott
S
Prestage
Garrett P
GP
D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003075:Coitus; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000095283:Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples