2005 Survey Findings
In 2005, we successfully introduced the collection of oral fluid samples to be tested for HIV antibodies to the survey. This allowed us to deliver the first estimates of HIV prevalence and undiagnosed infection among a community sample of gay and bisexual men in Scotland for the first time. A total of 1744 men participated (66% response rate) and oral fluid samples were provided by 1350 men (52% response rate). Men who did not provide samples were more likely to be from Glasgow than Edinburgh, but there were no other differences in demographics, sexual risk behaviour, HIV testing history, perceived HIV status, GUM clinic use or STIs.
Of the 1349 men tested, 60 were HIV positive (4.4%), and 42% of these were undiagnosed. 2005 was also the year that we first saw a significant increase in HIV testing among the men surveyed, which corresponds with the Scottish Government policy change to routine, opt-out testing in genitourinary medicine clinics, and presented a significant turn around from some of our earlier findings (see 2002 survey).
Publications
Williamson LM, Flowers P, Knussen C, Hart GJ. HIV testing trends among gay men in Scotland (1996-2005): implications for HIV testing policies and prevention. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2009; 85:550-4.
pubmed open access
Williamson LM, Dodds JP, Mercey DE, Hart GJ, Johnson AM. Sexual risk behaviour and knowledge of HIV status among community samples of gay men in the UK. AIDS 2008; 22:1063-70.
pubmed
Williamson L, Hart G. HIV prevalence and undiagnosed infection among a community sample of gay men in Scotland, UK. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome 2007; 45:224-230.
pubmed
2005 Williamson LM, Flowers P, Knussen C, Hart GJ. HIV testing trends among gay men in Scotland (1996-2005): implications for HIV testing policies and prevention. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2009; 85:550-4.
pubmed open access
