A new report from The Kirby Institute has found that HIV diagnoses in Australia have hit a seven year low. However, in contrast to that incredibly exciting news, it also shows that diagnoses amongst heterosexuals have risen 10% over the past five years.
The data also shows a 19% rise in diagnoses of the disease amongst heterosexual males across Australia. Heterosexual diagnoses accounted for one in four of all diagnoses in 2017.
Whilst still the majority of diagnoses, the number of gay and bisexual men diagnosed with the disease last year dropped by 15%.
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The overall decline in diagnoses over the past few years has been attributed to more people getting tested for the illness as well as more people utilising HIV starting treatment as well as PrEP (an HIV prevention pill).
On how to build on this decline, the head of the Kirby Institute Professor Rebecca Guy says, “In particular we need to improve access for gay and bisexual men living outside of inner-city areas, gay and bisexual men born overseas and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander gay and bisexual men.”
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The rising rate of HIV in heterosexuals is of major concern, especially because nearly half of the diagnoses were late – meaning the individual had been living with the disease for four years or more undetected. This highlights a major lack of testing for HIV amongst heterosexuals, and was highlighted in a 2012-13 survey, which found one in three heterosexuals had been tested for HIV.
For decades HIV has been affiliated primarily with the homosexual community due to the high rates amongst the community. This is compounded by a damaging social stigma influenced by the high percentage of diagnoses amongst the community and a lack of education on the disease.
Consistent efforts over the past few years to educate and promote safe sex as well as regular sexual health tests amongst the community from Government organisations have shown huge drops in the rate of diagnoses.
The new data shows the importance of promoting HIV testing amongst the heterosexual community as the country aims to end new diagnoses of the disease by 2020.
With free testing available in every Australian state and most now offering rapid testing, there is no excuse for anyone of any sexual identity to not have regular tests.
For more information on the illness check out the Ending HIV website here.
Find your closest free testing clinic here.
