Men and women living heterosexually with HIV

NAPWA has representation on the National Centre in HIV Social Research research advisory group for the Straightpoz Study, a study of the health and needs of HIV positive heterosexuals. The report from the second stage of that study, Men and women living heterosexually with HIV, The Straightpoz study volume 2 has now been published.

An estimated one in five people with HIV in Australia identify as heterosexual, yet little has been known of their experience of living with HIV. The National Centre in HIV Social Research initiated the Straightpoz Study to address this lack of knowledge.

Men and women living heterosexually with HIV, The Straightpoz study volume 2 explores findings on health and treatments, health services and sexual practices.

Some key findings

Among the key findings reported are:

• participants had high uptake of HIV treatments;
• participants rated their health as relatively good;
• participants felt able to influence their health despite HIV;
• HIV impacts on the health of negative partners;
• nearly all participants used health services in hospitals or sexual health clinics;
• participants reported problems around disclosure to GPs and other health professionals;
• disclosure and knowledge about HIV was general within serodiscordant couples;
• many positive partners were ambivalent on issues around unprotected sex.

The full report can be downloaded below.

Attachment	Size	Type
Men and women living heterosexually with HIV [1]	1.09 MB	PDF