Australian NSP Survey National Data Report 2013 – 2017

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 2013 to 2017.

Key findings
  • In 2017, 52 Australian Needle and Syringe Programs (NSPs) participated in the ANSPS and 2,600 NSP attendees completed the survey. The response rate was 41%.
  • Over the period 2013 to 2017, the median age of survey respondents increased from 39 years to 42 years, with a concurrent decrease in the proportion of young injectors (aged <25 years) from 8% in 2013 to 5% in 2017.
  • HIV antibody prevalence remained low and stable nationally, ranging from 1.4% to 2.1% over the period 2013 to 2017.
  • Hepatitis C virus antibody prevalence declined from 54% in 2013 to 49% in 2017.
  • Nationally, the proportion of respondents who reported recent (last 12 months) initiation of HCV treatment was low and stable at 1-3% between 2011-2015, but increased significantly to 22% in 2016 and 36% in 2017, with substantial increases observed in all jurisdictions.
Australian NSP Survey National Data Report 2013 – 2017 1.85 MB pdf
Report contact
Year published
2018
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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