Developing And Implementing Systems To Optimise Treatment, Care And Support Among People Diagnosed With HIV
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,021,439.00
Summary
Immediate treatment of people diagnosed with HIV infection has become a key public health intervention, based on recent evidence confirming treatment suppresses the virus to undetectable levels, and effectively eliminates the risk of transmission to sexual partners. Our partnership will identify and address barriers to accessing specialist HIV care and starting treatment among people recently diagnosed with HIV, and will contribute to Australia’s goal of ending HIV transmission by 2020.
Exploring HIV Sexual Risk Behaviours Among ‘hidden’ MSM In Myanmar And Opportunities To Improve Health Through Information Communication Technology (ICT) Platforms
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$92,364.00
Summary
This research will describe sexual risk behaviours and perceptions of HIV vulnerability among 'hidden' MSM in Myanmar. It will characterise their sexual and social networks with both male and female partners, as well as identify barriers to accessing sexual health and HIV testing and support services. This study will also assess the potential for digital technology to deliver sexual health promotion and facilitate service access among hidden MSM in Myanmar.
Crystal Methamphetamine Use, Sex And Risk Practice Among Gay And Bisexual Men
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$597,476.00
Summary
The use of the drug “crystal” (also known as “ice”) during sex has become far more common among gay and bisexual men (GBM) in Australia in recent years. Diseases such as HIV and hepatitis C are easily transmitted between GBM who inject crystal during sex. This innovative study will interview GBM who combine crystal use with sex, and health promotion professionals, in order to develop effective ways of reducing harms and preventing the transmission of diseases in sexual contexts.
Monogamy As An HIV And STI Prevention Strategy For Gay Men
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$407,506.00
Summary
Monogamy is relatively common among Australian gay men and yet relatively under researched or explored. At present we know little about the motivations of Australian gay men to enter and maintain monogamous relationships. This study will bring into clear view a phenomenon, and social and intimate practice, that has been almost entirely overlooked and will significantly advance our understanding of the dynamics of gay men's sexual behaviour and sexual cultures.
Do People's Environments Influence Their Habitual Physical Activity?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$196,650.00
Summary
People seem to prefer to drive to the corner shop rather than walking. Or, they will drive the car to work instead of walking to the bus or train. Or, they send off e-mails instead of walking down the corridor at work. The result is that people are not using up the energy that they should and they get fatter. The average weight of many groups of Australians has gone up by several kilograms in the past 10 years. Active people not only have healthier weights. They are less likely to get heart dise ....People seem to prefer to drive to the corner shop rather than walking. Or, they will drive the car to work instead of walking to the bus or train. Or, they send off e-mails instead of walking down the corridor at work. The result is that people are not using up the energy that they should and they get fatter. The average weight of many groups of Australians has gone up by several kilograms in the past 10 years. Active people not only have healthier weights. They are less likely to get heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. But too many people do no exercise at all. Only about 10% of Australians adults do fitness and sporting activities three or more times a week. More than half do not walk, cycle or do anything moderately active on any regular basis. To get people to be regularly active and to stay active, promoting deliberate 'exercise' is not the answer. Making it easier for people to choose to be more active as they go about their daily lives will be more effective. Road transport researchers and geographers have a lot to offer to health researchers. They have found that where there are footpaths and cycle ways, where shops and businesses are close by or where the roads make it easy and safe to get from place to place, people are much more likely to walk or ride bikes. We can now use large, complex computerised databases (called Geographic Information Systems) to put together this type of information on peoples' local environments. We will combine these 'geographic' data with other information from surveys on people's physical activity, exercise and transport habits. Starting our research in this way, we will be able to work out whether there are factors in people's local environments that really do make them less active. Governments, health planners and local councils will use this information to find ways to create communities that are more activity-friendly. This will have real health benefits.Read moreRead less
Enabling Safe Leisure Activity Participation For Young Hearing Aid Wearers
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$47,537.00
Summary
There is community concern that exposure to loud sound during everyday activities, (such as, using iPods,MP3 players), may be damaging young peopleÍs hearing, and researchers around the world are investigating this issue. There is little information about how exposure to loud sound affects young people who already have permanent hearing loss, so the National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL) is conducting a study (iHEAR2) to find out whether loud sound exposure is affecting young hearing aid wearers.
Online Pornography And Sexual Risk Behaviour, Health And Wellbeing: An Evidence-informed And Needs-based Approach To Health Promotion And Sex Education For Young People
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$81,361.00
Summary
Young people have unprecedented access to online pornography. To date, little is known about it's actual impact on sexual risk behaviours, negative or violent attitudes towards women, mental health and body image. There is a need for better evidence about young people’s online pornography usage and its impact on their health and wellbeing, to inform the development of evidenced based health promotion strategies.
Advanced Non-invasive Cardiovascular Risk Screening In The Community: Practical And Cost Effective?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$287,321.00
Summary
This research focuses on the practicalities and cost of mobile, advanced, non-invasive cardiovascular assessments to determine the extent of CVD and clinical risk factors and its likely impact on patterns of treatment and care to “disadvantaged” individuals living in rural and remote regions and Indigenous Australians. The advantage of directly acquiring risk profile information has not been fully explored and its potential to address an “epidemic” of CVD world-wide cannot be overstated.
An Analysis Of Blood Awareness For The Purposes Of Hepatitis C Prevention Education And Health Promotion.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$196,113.00
Summary
This project will make a direct and major contribution to Hepatitis C prevention by addressing the need for blood awareness in prevention education. The need for measures to prevent the spread of HCV is based on the clinical implications of infection combined with its current prevalence and predicted spread within Australia. More than 200,000 Australians are estimated to be living with hepatitis C infection. Around 11,000 new HCV infections per year are estimated to occur across the Australia. H ....This project will make a direct and major contribution to Hepatitis C prevention by addressing the need for blood awareness in prevention education. The need for measures to prevent the spread of HCV is based on the clinical implications of infection combined with its current prevalence and predicted spread within Australia. More than 200,000 Australians are estimated to be living with hepatitis C infection. Around 11,000 new HCV infections per year are estimated to occur across the Australia. HCV is spread through blood to blood exposure. In the absence of effective medical treatment for Hepatitis C virus (HCV) education about modes of transmission presents as the most viable means of containing the spread of the virus. The promotion of blood awareness has been identified as a key strategy for such education as it may ensure greater care on the part of the general community in the prevention of blood exposures. However, the development of a heightened awareness of blood as a source of infection is fraught with social and health implications. A crucial concern for those directly involved in promoting blood awareness is the need to ensure that such a strategy does not contribute to the already existing stigmatisation of those living with HCV or, more generally, promote irrational phobias about blood. Findings of the research will assist in the development of public health education campaigns to prevent the spread of HCV. It will also contribute to education prevention for other blood borne communicable diseases including HIV and other viral hepatitides. Further, it will provide a model of inquiry for developing health promotion programs seeking blood, semen, organ and tissue donation.Read moreRead less