A new survey will track the social and sexual networks of local gay men with hopes of finding new ways to tackle HIV and other sexually-transmitted diseases.
People will need a ticket to complete the online survey and find three others to repeat the process until they reach their target number of 425 people. Researchers from Curtin University and the WA AIDS Council (WAAC) launched the survey last month.
WAAC spokesperson Mark Reid said the survey would steer clear of gay venues and work through the social networks of gay men instead.
‘In essence – men will be asked to participate, and then asked to offer up to three of their friends the opportunity to participate, and then they ask up to three of their friends, and so on,’ he said.
‘This allows for a more targeted approach, and is therefore more likely to be successful in reducing risk taking behaviour.’
Curtin University project officer Rita Freijah said the steady rise of HIV in Australia over the last 10 years corresponded with the rise of unprotected anal sex.
‘Research shows that these changes may be attributed to the shifting nature of the HIV epidemic, advancements in treatments, and the social context and networks within which gay men live and interact,’ she said.
People involved will go into the running to win a $4,000 travel voucher.
Benn Dorrington
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