Abstract

Introduction: In Australia, men who have sex with men (MSM) constitute the majority of newly diagnosed HIV cases. After a decline in the late 1990's, several Australian states have reported increases in HIV mainly attributed to MSM. There has also been an increase in HIV in Western Australia (WA), however recently, a larger proportion have been attributed to people who acquired the infection through heterosexual contact.

Objective: This paper describes the epidemiology of HIV in WA from 2000 to 2006, focusing on the increase in cases with heterosexual exposure.

Methods: In WA, notification of HIV cases is mandatory for doctors and laboratories. Information collected includes basic demographics and probable exposure. Descriptive analysis was carried out on de-identified HIV notification data from 2000 to 2006.

Results: An annual average of 49 HIV cases were notified in 2000-2004. However, in 2005 and 2006, this increased to 64 and 72 cases respectively. The increase was mainly among non-Aboriginal males and females reporting heterosexual contact. The number of non-Aboriginal males who reported heterosexual contact increased from an average of 9 cases in 2000-2004 to an average of 20 cases in 2005-2006. The number of non-Aboriginal female cases reporting heterosexual exposure increased from an average of seven cases in 2000-2004 to 9 and 14 cases notified in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

The majority of non-Aboriginal males reporting heterosexual exposure in 2005-2006 acquired their infection overseas (84%). Of these, 71% reported Asia as the place of acquisition.

Of the non-Aboriginal females reporting heterosexual exposure in 2005-2006, 52% were acquired overseas.

The number of Aboriginal cases remained stable between 2000 and 2006 fluctuating between 2 and 11 cases and continued to be mainly heterosexually acquired within WA.

Conclusion: There has been an increase in the number of male and female HIV cases reporting heterosexual exposure in WA. A large proportion reported acquiring their infection overseas highlighting the need to raise awareness among people who travel, work in countries with high rates of HIV.