Location:
The Kirby Institute Level 6 Seminar Room Wallace Wurth Building UNSW Australia Sydney NSW 2052
Open to
All
Contact for enquiries
Rata Joseph +61 (0)2 9385 0900 rjoseph@kirby.unsw.edu.au
The Kirby Institute is pleased to present:
Mr Benjamin Bavinton-Associate Lecturer- HIV Epidemiology and Prevention Program, Kirby Institute
"HIV treatment, transmission and sexual behaviour in homosexual male serodiscordant couples: The Opposites Attract Study."
Abstract:
HIV ‘treatment as prevention’ (TasP) has been shown to be highly effective in studies with heterosexual serodiscordant couples, yet there are limited data from homosexual male serodiscordant couples on the impact of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and viral load (VL) on HIV transmission risk, and on risk behaviours within such couples. The Opposites Attract Study is an ongoing multi-site cohort study of male serodiscordant couples in Australia, Brazil and Thailand. Couples undergo clinical testing at least twice per year for HIV antibodies, viral load, CD4 count, and sexually transmitted infections, and complete a detailed behavioural questionnaire at the time of each visit. This presentation will outline key baseline results on attitudes towards TasP, communication and agreements regarding viral load, and sexual behaviour within couples, as well as the results of the planned interim analysis of the HIV transmission endpoint.
Bio:
Benjamin Bavinton is Project Leader of the Kirby Institute’s Opposites Attract Study, an international, multi-site cohort study of HIV transmission and HIV treatments in homosexual male serodiscordant couples. Ben has worked in the field of HIV prevention, research and policy for over 10 years both in Australia and internationally, including at ACON (AIDS Council of NSW) and UNAIDS in Bangkok, Thailand. Ben is also currently completing his PhD in the HIV Epidemiology and Prevention Program at the Kirby Institute focusing on the intersection of biomedical and behavioural HIV prevention in gay men, particularly serodiscordant couples.