Dataset Information

National trends in sexual health indicators among gay and bisexual men disaggregated by ethnicity: repeated cross-sectional behavioural surveillance in New Zealand.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To assess trends in sexual health outcomes among men who have sex with men (MSM) disaggregated by ethnicity.

Design

Repeated cross-sectional.

Setting

Behavioural surveillance data from 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2014 were collected in-person and online across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Participants

Eligible participants were self-identified men aged 16 years or older who reported sex with another man in the past 5 years. We classified 10 525 participants' ethnicities: Asian (n=1003, 9.8%), Māori (Indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand, n=1058, 10.3%), Pacific (n=424, 4.1%) and European (n=7867, 76.8%).

Outcome measures

The sexual health outcomes examined were >20 recent (past 6 months) male sexual partners, past-year sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, past-year STI diagnosis, lifetime and past-year HIV testing, lifetime HIV-positive diagnosis and any recent (past 6 months) condomless anal intercourse with casual or regular partners.

Results

When disaggregated, Indigenous and ethnic minority groups reported sexual health trends that diverged from the European MSM and each other. For example, Asian MSM increased lifetime HIV testing (adjusted OR, AOR=1.31 per survey cycle, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.47) and recent HIV testing (AOR=1.14, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.28) with no changes among Māori MSM or Pacific MSM. Condomless anal intercourse with casual partners increased among Māori MSM (AOR=1.13, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.28) with no changes for Asian or Pacific MSM. Condomless anal intercourse with regular partners decreased among Pacific MSM (AOR=0.83, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.99) with no changes for Asian or Māori MSM.

Conclusions

Population-level trends were driven by European MSM, masking important differences for Indigenous and ethnic minority sub-groups. Surveillance data disaggregated by ethnicity highlight inequities in sexual health service access and prevention uptake. Future research should collect, analyse and report disaggregated data by ethnicity to advance health equity.

SUBMITTER: Lachowsky NJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7674106 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

National trends in sexual health indicators among gay and bisexual men disaggregated by ethnicity: repeated cross-sectional behavioural surveillance in New Zealand.

Lachowsky Nathan J NJ Saxton Peter J W PJW Dickson Nigel Patrick NP Hughes Anthony J AJ Summerlee Alastair J S AJS Dewey Cate E CE

BMJ open 20201117 11

<h4>Objectives</h4>To assess trends in sexual health outcomes among men who have sex with men (MSM) disaggregated by ethnicity.<h4>Design</h4>Repeated cross-sectional.<h4>Setting</h4>Behavioural surveillance data from 2006, 2008, 2011 and 2014 were collected in-person and online across Aotearoa New Zealand.<h4>Participants</h4>Eligible participants were self-identified men aged 16 years or older who reported sex with another man in the past 5 years. We classified 10 525 participants' ethnicities ...[more]

PMID: 33203634

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Dataset Information

National trends in sexual health indicators among gay and bisexual men disaggregated by ethnicity: repeated cross-sectional behavioural surveillance in New Zealand.

Objectives

Design

Setting

Participants

Outcome measures

Results

Conclusions

Publications

National trends in sexual health indicators among gay and bisexual men disaggregated by ethnicity: repeated cross-sectional behavioural surveillance in New Zealand.

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