The study is the first time that a measure of undiagnosed HIV has been recorded in New Zealand.
The research also confirms that the incidence of HIV in general has increased; unwelcome news for New Zealand’s gay and bisexual communities. Shaun Robinson, Executive Director of the New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF) says, “Prior to this study we were working on figures which told us that overall, 1 in 20 gay and bisexual men in Auckland had HIV. These new findings tell us this figure has now dramatically increased to 1 in 15.”
Of the men with undiagnosed HIV, more than half had previously tested negative for HIV in the last twelve months, suggesting that their date of transmission was recent. Robinson says, “While testing regularly is clearly important, testing alone is not stopping this epidemic from spreading. Using condoms and lube every time you have sex remains the only way to protect yourself from HIV.”
The research also revealed that the majority of the men with undiagnosed HIV believed that they were HIV negative. Robinson adds, “If you don’t know you have HIV, your partner won’t either. Many people are more likely to assume a negative HIV status in their sexual partners and this could influence a decision to have unsafe sex. People could be placing themselves at extreme risk without realising it.”
These new findings follow recent figures which showed that 2010 was the worst year on record for HIV among gay and bisexual men, with an unprecedented 95 new diagnoses, continuing a trend of increased numbers since 2003. “The NZAF remain committed to working with our gay and bisexual men’s communities,” Robinson says, “Tougher, smarter HIV prevention initiatives are needed now more than ever before.”
The study was conducted by the AIDS Epidemiology Group at the University of Otago in February 2011 and recruited 1049 gay and bisexual men from Auckland who completed an anonymous behaviour-based questionnaire and provided an anonymous saliva sample. The two were very carefully linked via a unique code. The study received ethics approval from the Northern X Regional Ethics Committee and was funded by the Health Research Council.
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Notes to journalists:
The study findings are available free online from the journal BMC Public Health http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpublichealth/
For further comment please contact:
Dawn O’Connor
Communications and Fundraising Manager
New Zealand AIDS Foundation | Te Tūāpapa Mate Āraikore o Aotearoa
p| 09 300 6965
m| 021 741 604
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Shaun Robinson, NZAF Executive Director
