Experiences of HIV among newly-diagnosed men in Australia: Gay community, relationships and connections

Abstract

In Australia,cases of HIV by the year 2020 is encapsulated through the Ending HIV campaign, with the ambitious aim of the virtual elimination of HIV transmission in Australia. The experiences of individuals recently diagnosed with HIV offer unique insight into the contexts in which HIV is transmitted. In this thesis, I examined the experiences of gay men in Australia who had recently been diagnosed with HIV using a mixed method approach of online cross-sectional surveys and in-depth interviews. The technique of using an online platform to collect data from individuals newly diagnosed with HIV provided reliable and valuable results. Through the lens of their experiences, I reflect on how the Ending HIV community engagement platform addresses current challenges to HIV prevention. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the men in our sample did not appear to be applying non-condom based HIV risk reduction strategies prior to their diagnosis. Most men attributed their HIV infection to a partner with whom they had little prior acquaintance. Prior to their against HIV transmission. Initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) presented a difficult choice for some men, but those who were more connected to peers had greater faith in the benefits of early initiation of ART. Together, these analyses suggest that gay community, peer support, and the personal and social connections between gay men, remain essential components of HIV prevention in Australia.