NAPWA News Autumn 2011

NAPWA RESEARCH

The Stigma Audit has received a strong response reflecting a period of active recruitment via internet sites from early December including Facebook and Gaydar - with 90% of traffic was referred from these ads. Consequently the majority of respondents are gay men. From the end of January we will be undertaking targeted recruitment aimed at women, heterosexual men and CALD communities. More information [1].

Alfred Hospital Cohort [2]In epidemiology, a group of individuals with some characteristics in common. A cohort study is a special kind of clinical trial which looks at a treatment or treatment strategy in a cohort of people. Study

Clinicians at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne are putting together a prospective cohort of HIV-positive people and have invited NAPWA to participate as a coinvestigator. Sean Slavin [3]has been developing a survey instrument to assess quality of life, mental health, sexual health and drug use. This will go to the Alfred Ethics [4](In clinical trials) The process of determining that a proposed clinical trial conforms to a wide range of moral, scientific and ethical standards, to ensure that participants in the trial are not abused, mistreated or unfairly taken advantage of. Before a clinical trial can go ahead, it must be given approval via an independent ethics process. Committee in February.

National Centre in HIV Social Research

The NCHSR [5]National Centre in HIV Social Research. Located at the University of NSW in Sydney, NCHSR conducts research which describes and analyses the social understandings, meanings and practices of peoples, institutions and communities in relation to HIV, Hepatitis C and other communicable diseases. is assembling ideas for a research project that looks at HIV-positve people who do not take treatments. This is being coordinated with NCHECR [6]National Centre in HIV Epidemiology and Clinical Research. Based at the University of NSW in Sydney, NCHECR is one of Australia's leading medical research centres and is recognised internationally as a leader in the field of research into HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis. and NAPWA. NAPWA will undertake a set of narrative interviews with non-treaters and explore ways of coordinating this activity. For more information on the study contact Sean Slavin [3]

TREATAWARE

Treataware activities for the first quarter of 2011 are underway with a range of events including:

• CHIN WAG chat shows for Victoria, possibly Cairns and one other yet to be advised

HIV and Your Brain Workshop for Community Health & Support Workers For more information contact Brent Beadle [7]

POSITIVE LIVING

The next edition of Positive Living has been published. Feature articles include:

• Fear in HIV Prevention
• Beginners Guide to Yoga
• A Positive Woman's View on HIV Stigma
• Regular columns Tales from the Network and What's Your Problem this month looking at Hep [8]Any inflammation of the liver. It is usually caused by viral infection, toxic agents or drugs but may be an autoimmune response. It is characterised by jaundice, abdominal pain, liver enlargement and sometimes fever. The different types of viral hepatitis include hepatitis A (formerly called infectious hepatitis), hep B (serum hepatitis), hep C (formerly called non-A, non-B hepatitis), and hepatitis D, E, F and G. .C Sexual Transmission and Treatment
• Other news includes HIV and Criminalisation, New Disability Support Pension (DSP) Impairment Tables and conference updates

Copies available from regualr outlets, subscription and online. For information contact Adrian Ogier [9]

OTHER NEWS

MEDICINEWISE TIPS FOR CLEANING OUT YOUR MEDICINE CABINET

• Gather all the medicines in your house inclluding creams, gels, eye drops, vitamins, prescription and non-prescription medicines
• Check the expiry dates on all the medicines
• Check which medicines you still need. If in doubt,ask your pharmacist or doctor.
• Take any unwanted or expired medicines to your local pharmacist for disposal Make a list of your medicines using an NPS Medicines list - available online

CONFERENCES

For an extensive lisitng of upcoming events in HIV/AIDS, immunology and related fields go to HIV/AIDS Conferences Worldwide [10] Here are just a few we have selected:

MARCH 24: 3rd National Conference: Current Issues in Sexual Health 2011 London United Kingdom [11]

 JUNE 01: 7th International Workshop on HIV & Hepatitis Co-infection Milan Italy [12]

JULY 07: Medico-Legal Conference Bologna Italy [13]

SEPT 12: AIDSimpact Santa Fe NM [14]

SEPT 28: 2011 Australasian Sexual Health Conference Canberra Australia [15]

OCTOBER 27: 2nd International Workshop on HIV & Aging Baltimore Maryland [16]