HIV testing rates among Tasmania’s homosexual community are lower than most other states, a survey has shown.
The University of New South Wales’ Centre for Social Research surveyed 210 Tasmanian men for a gay community periodic survey.
The surveys are regularly conducted in other states, but have never been done before in Tasmania.
The study showed 23 per cent of the men surveyed had never been tested for HIV.
Testing rates in Sydney were almost 90 per cent, 95 per cent in Perth and Adelaide, and 72 per cent in Melbourne, where communities were also surveyed in 2014.
Forty per cent of the Tasmanian men under 25 had never been tested.
The survey also found recreational drug use, at 46 per cent, was lower than in other communities and Tasmanian men were more likely to report being in a monogamous relationship with a male partner.
Associate Professor Martin Holt, who leads the periodic survey, said gay men in Tasmania needed to be better engaged with HIV testing.
“However, the focus on monogamous relationships and the lower HIV prevalence do not suggest that Tasmanian men are taking more risks than their mainland counterparts,” he said.
Community encouraged to access services
The Tasmanian Council on AIDS, Hepatitis and Related Diseases said the most recent similar study of Tasmania’s gay population was in 2002.
Chief Executive Sabine Wagner said it was important for the organisation to have figures to work from.
“[It’s] really important for us to know so that we know how to target our health promotion campaigns, where are the needs, what can we do better,” she said.
“What are the barriers to using services, to getting tested? What is specific to Tasmania?”
Ms Wagner said HIV was a treatable chronic condition, but could pose serious health risks if undiagnosed.
“Because we are a small community, confidentiality is a big issue and stigma and discrimination around HIV is still really strong,” she said.
“Often in the younger generation, HIV is not seen as an issue anymore, it’s not as visible as it used to be because of succesful treatment.
“Then, we are a very rural state and access to services is not as easy as on the mainland.”
“There are lots of different areas that are barriers for people to get tested.”