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Abstract
Background - few sentences introducing the rationale for the thesis and the general issues involved; Methods - the specific research questions addressed in all of your chapters (it can go through them one by one) and then the methods by which you are addressing the problems; Results - General conclusions (qualitative and quantitative from each of the chapters); Conclusions - implications from all your results and looking at your thesis as a whole what has been gained and gaps which have been identified.
This thesis uses the tools of mathematical modelling to timely address research questions in the field of HIV and sexually transmissible infections population health. An evaluation of the drivers of epidemics in South East Asia and Australia is conducted along with projection of epidemic trajectories according to various scenarios. Economic implications of public health and clinical decisions in HIV and STI control and care are also assessed.
In this thesis mathematical modelling is used in a number of different ways. Modelling was used to measure how effective the implementation of a public health policy was in mitigating the HIV epidemic in Cambodia in the past (Chapter 1). We then used modelling to project possible epidemic trajectories and calculate risk in two very different settings: Cambodia, a low income country where the majority of infections occur due to heterosexual intercourse and Australia, a high-income country with an epidemic predominantly based in the MSM population (Chapters 1, 2, 3 & 6). What can be learned from both settings is: the importance of ensuring that any intervention put into place is contextually appropriate; sentinel and behavioural surveillance are conducted routinely, are maintained and any deficiencies identified and addressed; and educating those whom are at risk about how they are at risk and how to minimise that risk through behaviour change is important.