Australian NSP Survey National Data Report 2011 – 2015

The Australian Needle and Syringe Program Survey (ANSPS) provides serial point prevalence estimates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and sexual and injecting risk behaviour among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Australia. Conducted annually over a one-two week period in October, all clients attending participating needle and syringe program (NSP) services are invited to complete a brief, anonymous questionnaire and to provide a capillary blood sample for HIV and HCV antibody testing.

This report presents national and state/territory data for the period 2011 to 2015.

Key findings
  • In 2015, 47 NSP services throughout Australia participated in the ANSPS and 2,304 NSP attendees completed the survey. The response rate was 41%.
  • Over the period 2011 to 2015, the median age of survey respondents increased from 37 years to 40 years, with a concurrent decrease in the proportion of young injectors (aged <25 years) from 8% in 2011 to 5% in 2015.
  • HIV antibody prevalence remained low and stable nationally, ranging from 1.2% in 2011 to 2.1% in 2015, however the proportion of men testing HIV antibody positive increased from 1.4% in 2011 to 2.2% in 2015.
  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody prevalence was stable over the period 2011 to 2015, ranging from 53% to 57%.
  • Over the period 2011 to 2015, approximately half of respondents reported daily or more frequent injecting in the month prior to the survey.
Australian NSP Survey National Data Report 2011 – 2015 2.96 MB pdf
Report contact
Year published
2015
Report type
Australian NSP Survey National Data Reports
Research program
Viral Hepatitis Epidemiology and Prevention Program
Project
Australian Needle and Syringe Program Survey (ANSPS)
Focus areas
HIV
Viral hepatitis
Research strengths
Epidemiology and surveillance
Public health interventions
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