Title of Project

Sexual risk behavior and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in men attending a peer-based sexual health clinic for men who have sex with men (MSM)

Chief Supervisor

Professor Donna Mak, School of Medicine

Project Outline

In 2001, the WA AIDS Council established a peer-based sexual health clinic at a sex-on-premise venue for (MSM). The clinic was unique in that it was run by peer educators, as opposed to health professionals. The clinic aimed to provide sexual health information and confidential (+/- anonymous) STI testing for asymptomatic, sexually active MSM. Since then, additional clinics have been established in metropolitan Perth, the most recent being the M clinic in Subiaco.
De-identified data collected during each patient encounter, including a unique alpha-numeric  patient identifier, date of birth, date of assessment, sexual risk behaviour and STI status, have been entered into a database containing data from >2500 patient encounters with >1500 individuals. Over 450 patients attended on 2 or more occasions; 195 of these attended on 3 or more occasions.
The aim of the project is to describe trends and changes in sexual behaviour and STI prevalence in MSM, both within individuals and the clinic population as a whole over 10.5 years (Jan 2001- June 2011) by undertaking longitudinal analysis of the data. Specific questions include:
Is there an association between the level of self-reported risk (as measured by number of sex partners and nature of sexual practices) and the frequency of testing?
What proportions of tests result in an STI diagnosis and has this changed over time?
What is the effect of a) repeated negative tests and b) an STI diagnosis on risk behaviour?

Suitable for

Contact

Professor Donna Mak  donna.mak@nd.edu.au