Australia: Sex on Premises Venue (SOPV) Health Promotion Project in Response to Sustained Increases in HIV Notifications

Queensland has seen an increase in HIV notifications. In response, a health promotion outreach was developed with sex on premises venues (SOPV) in Brisbane.

During a 14-month period, a health promotion officer promoted safer sex behaviors among SOPV patrons. The officer's services included providing information, counseling, referrals, and skills to enhance safer sex behaviors. Surveys were introduced to facilitate discussions regarding HIV/STDs, testing, and safer sex practices.

"The project demonstrated feasibility within this highly sexualized environment, and was enhanced by careful monitoring and revising the procedure to improve patron/staff responses to the project," the authors wrote. A significant part of the project's success was the survey instrument, which provided opportunities for SOPV patrons to discuss a variety of important sexual health issues.

"Despite initial difficulties, the presence of a health worker within an SOPV was acceptable to patrons and allowed for brief interventions to be conducted," the researchers concluded. "This project was deemed effective for a limited time period and within certain constraints." The authors noted that the effort represented an effective partnership among the health department; a community HIV/lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender organization; and private industry.

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