International Journal of STD & AIDS > Volume 18, Number 9 > Pp. 622-625

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Original research articles

State of the (positive) nation: findings from the fourth national Australian HIV futures survey

J W Grierson, M K Pitts and R D Thorpe

Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health & Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia; Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health & Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia; Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health & Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

This paper characterises the health and wellbeing of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Australia. The HIV Futures 4 Survey is a self-complete anonymous questionnaire distributed through multiple sites. Data were collected on health, clinical and social variables. There were 1059 responses, approximately 8% of the estimated HIV-positive population. Respondents were aged between 18 and 92 years and 77% were homosexual men. In total, 60% reported a viral load of <500 copies/mL and 83% a CD4 count of over 250 cells/µL. A total of 44% reported another major health condition and 35% a mental health condition. A total of 71% were using antiretroviral therapy. More than half of the respondents had stopped working because of HIV and 25% were living in poverty. In conclusion, adequate planning for the future of our response to HIV/AIDS relies in no small part on our access to detailed information about how the epidemic affects those with the virus.

Key Words: HIV/AIDS • ANTIRETROVIRAL • ATTITUDE • QUALITY OF LIFE • WELLBEING

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