title: Methods of a national survey of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people regarding sexually transmissible infections and bloodborne viruses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the methods and basic demographics of participants in a national survey of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) people specific to sexually transmissible infections and bloodborne viruses.
  
  
  METHODS
  A national cross-sectional survey of Aboriginal people aged 16-29 years in all Australian jurisdictions between 2011 and 2013 conducted at Aboriginal community events. Questions comprised demographic information, knowledge, risk behaviours and health service utilisation. Questionnaires were completed on personal digital assistants (PDAs).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2,877 people at 21 unique community events completed the questionnaire. A total of 59% of participants were female, median age was 21 years and more than 60% were single at the time of the survey. Just over half the participants were resident in an urban area (53%) and 38% were from a regional area. Aboriginal health organisations played an important role in implementing the research. PDAs were found to be an acceptable method for collecting health information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey has recruited a large representative sample of Aboriginal people aged 16-29 years using a methodology that is feasible, acceptable and repeatable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The methodology provides a model for ongoing monitoring of this population as programs and policies are implemented to address young Aboriginal people's STI and BBV risks.
authors.affiliation: South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.affiliation: Centre for Social Health Research, University of New South Wales.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bryant
authors.affiliation: Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales.
authors.forename: Handan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wand
authors.affiliation: Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaldor
authors.affiliation: Aboriginal Medical Service Western Sydney, New South Wales.
authors.forename: Dea
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Delaney-Thiele
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Worth
authors.affiliation: Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Betts
authors.affiliation: Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Victoria.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Waples-Crowe
authors.affiliation: Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of New South Wales.
authors.forename: Sallie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cairnduff
authors.affiliation: Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council.
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Coburn
authors.affiliation: Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales.|Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Sydney Hospital, New South Wales.
authors.forename: Basil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Donovan
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Victoria.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pitts
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012309:Risk-Taking; D015231:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / Q000208:ethnology*; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000208:ethnology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; bloodborne viruses; cross-sectional survey; sexually transmissible infections; young people