Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society: Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society Prof Anthony Smith


Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society: Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society ARCSHS Hepatitis C research


Areas we research: Areas we research HIV Hepatitis Sexual health / STIs Sex and sexualities Reproductive health Men’s / women’s health Social inequalities


The Hepatitis Social Research Program: The Hepatitis Social Research Program Uses a public health approach to examine and address hepatitis from a range of perspectives Conducts and collaborates on research projects, resources education and training for health professionals, and is committed to transferring research outcomes into both policy and practice.


Completed Hepatitis C projects: Completed Hepatitis C projects Identifying the social, personal and health needs of women living with Hepatitis C Identifying the social, personal and health needs of men living with Hepatitis C Blood, football and risk: an examination of the implementation and significance of blood borne virus prevention policy in Australian Rules Football Living with co-infection (HIV and Hep C) Barriers to treatment for Hep. C


Current Hepatitis C research projects: Referral patterns of GPs and specialists: Current Hepatitis C research projects: Referral patterns of GPs and specialists Examines when GP refer patients with Hep C to specialists and when specialists wish to receive referrals Significant mis-matches with GPs often delaying in referrals


Factors in health care settings contributing to discrimination against people with Hepatitis C : Factors in health care settings contributing to discrimination against people with Hepatitis C Aim is to identify: factors in health care settings which could contribute to discrimination barriers to the provision of care for those with hep. C 20 in-depth interviews with General Practitioners Dentists Pharmacists Nurses Staff questionnaire and in-depth case study of policies and practices in 2 clinics from each setting.


Learning to inject inside: Learning to inject inside Aims to identify the resilience and risk factors in the uptake of injecting in ATSI men who are incarcerated. A qualitative study with former prisoners and prisoner support groups


Living with HIV and the Hepatides: Living with HIV and the Hepatides Approximately 1,500 Australians are co-infected with HIV and Hep C In addition a significant number of PLWHA have had Hep B. In-depth interviews with people with co-infections in three states Analysis of Futures data


Evaluating a web-based Hep C intervention for secondary students: Evaluating a web-based Hep C intervention for secondary students The web site development How it imparts Hep C knowledge How it address discrimination


Choice or Chance: the social context of contraceptive use by women with Hepatitis C and their reproductive and sexual health needs: Choice or Chance: the social context of contraceptive use by women with Hepatitis C and their reproductive and sexual health needs Previous research found that women with hepatitis C report low levels of contraception compared with Australian women as a whole (34% and 67% respectively). Young women are the fastest growing group of those contracting hepatitis C. Women with the virus have particular contraceptive needs and reproductive concerns


Choice or chance ?: Choice or chance ? Aims: To investigate the reasons behind this low use of contraception To determine the implications for their reproductive choices and sexual health To contribute, based on findings, to the development of strategies to assist in achieving improved levels of contraception, where appropriate


Regulating Hepatitis C: rights and duties: Regulating Hepatitis C: rights and duties How regulations, guidelines and codes of practice relating to hepatitis C transmission and prevention are understood and acted upon by service providers (AHMAC) Mapping of all relevant laws, regulations at local, state/territory and federal levels. Key informant interviews with stakeholders and peak professional bodies in the areas of pharmacy, prisons, drug and health service sectors. Case studies


To identify policy and regulatory gaps in relation to:: To identify policy and regulatory gaps in relation to: Needle and syringe programs Acupuncture clinics Prisons and juvenile justice centres Tattooing and body piercing premises


Future Studies in Hepatitis C: Future Studies in Hepatitis C Improving treatment access for Victorian prisoners Mapping services with the potential to provide Hepatitis C treatment and support Regionally based treatments for Hepatitis C (EOI / NHMRC) Aging with Hepatitis C Impacts on the health care system of aging populations of people with Hep. C, many of whom are of southern Mediterranean or Indochinese origin, (NOI / NHMRC) Treatment access for CALD groups


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