HIV Futures project extended to mid-June

May 14, 2007

HIV Futures project extended to mid-June

HIV Futures NZ 2, New Zealand’s largest comprehensive study into the health and social experiences of people with HIV, has been extended until mid-June to enable more HIV-positive New Zealanders to take part.

A joint project led by the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University, Melbourne, HIV Futures is run in collaboration with the New Zealand AIDS Foundation and community organisations like Body Positive, Positive Women, Poz Plus, Absolutely Positively Positive and the African Health Promotion Programme.

Jonathan Smith is the HIV Futures project liaison and is himself HIV-positive. He says the response so far has been very encouraging. “However, we’ve had widespread requests from people living with HIV and also clinicians for more time to be made available to complete the survey. We’ve had 213 men and women around the country take part to date. ”

The in-depth study collects information on all aspects of living with HIV, including the effectiveness of treatments, social isolation, relationships, employment, housing and finances.

“It’s really important that we get a diverse range of HIV-positive people responding to the survey, because our experiences are all different,” Smith says. “These results will have an effect on services for HIV-positive people being tailored to best meet our needs.”

People can take part online at www.hivfutures.org.au, or by filling in a written survey form, available through NZAF offices in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch. Both these methods are anonymous.

ENDS

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