HIV risk among Australian men travelling overseas: networks and context matter

Increasing international mobility presents a risk for communicable disease transmission. Overseas-acquired HIV infections have been increasingly observed across Australian jurisdictions. This includes a mix of men emigrating from countries with high HIV prevalence and men travelling abroad. There is...

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Main Authors: Brown, G., Ellard, J., Mooney-Somers, J., Hildebrand, Janina, Langdon, T.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Routledge 2012
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/36523
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author Brown, G.
Ellard, J.
Mooney-Somers, J.
Hildebrand, Janina
Langdon, T.
author_facet Brown, G.
Ellard, J.
Mooney-Somers, J.
Hildebrand, Janina
Langdon, T.
author_sort Brown, G.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Increasing international mobility presents a risk for communicable disease transmission. Overseas-acquired HIV infections have been increasingly observed across Australian jurisdictions. This includes a mix of men emigrating from countries with high HIV prevalence and men travelling abroad. There is currently little research exploring international mobility and HIV risk, and as a consequence the increase of men acquiring HIV while travelling overseas is poorly understood. This paper draws on data from a qualitative study exploring the risk perspectives and experiences of 14 Australian men who acquired HIV while travelling overseas in the years between 2000 and 2009. Participants articulated a strong desire to distance themselves from the identity of a tourist. Social networks were highlighted as important entry points to engage with other foreign travellers and expatriates. These networks were highly influential and were understood by the participants to provide guidance on how they should negotiate the local scene, including where to meet sex partners. Limited discussion of safe sex and HIV was mentioned in these contexts. The findings suggest that prevalent social norms and social networks play an influential role in how participants negotiate sex and social relations in overseas settings. These networks could potentially provide sites for effective HIV-prevention programmes.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-365232018-03-29T09:08:49Z HIV risk among Australian men travelling overseas: networks and context matter Brown, G. Ellard, J. Mooney-Somers, J. Hildebrand, Janina Langdon, T. male tourists HIV prevention sexual risk behaviour HIV transmission social networks Increasing international mobility presents a risk for communicable disease transmission. Overseas-acquired HIV infections have been increasingly observed across Australian jurisdictions. This includes a mix of men emigrating from countries with high HIV prevalence and men travelling abroad. There is currently little research exploring international mobility and HIV risk, and as a consequence the increase of men acquiring HIV while travelling overseas is poorly understood. This paper draws on data from a qualitative study exploring the risk perspectives and experiences of 14 Australian men who acquired HIV while travelling overseas in the years between 2000 and 2009. Participants articulated a strong desire to distance themselves from the identity of a tourist. Social networks were highlighted as important entry points to engage with other foreign travellers and expatriates. These networks were highly influential and were understood by the participants to provide guidance on how they should negotiate the local scene, including where to meet sex partners. Limited discussion of safe sex and HIV was mentioned in these contexts. The findings suggest that prevalent social norms and social networks play an influential role in how participants negotiate sex and social relations in overseas settings. These networks could potentially provide sites for effective HIV-prevention programmes. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/36523 10.1080/13691058.2012.678015 Routledge restricted
spellingShingle male tourists
HIV prevention
sexual risk
behaviour
HIV transmission
social networks
Brown, G.
Ellard, J.
Mooney-Somers, J.
Hildebrand, Janina
Langdon, T.
HIV risk among Australian men travelling overseas: networks and context matter
title HIV risk among Australian men travelling overseas: networks and context matter
title_full HIV risk among Australian men travelling overseas: networks and context matter
title_fullStr HIV risk among Australian men travelling overseas: networks and context matter
title_full_unstemmed HIV risk among Australian men travelling overseas: networks and context matter
title_short HIV risk among Australian men travelling overseas: networks and context matter
title_sort hiv risk among australian men travelling overseas: networks and context matter
topic male tourists
HIV prevention
sexual risk
behaviour
HIV transmission
social networks
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/36523