Routine HIV testing may become the UK norm

Working from BHIVA testing recommendations the Government will be launching a pilot scheme, which will see HIV testing become a routine procedure in GP's surgeries in order to identify the infection. Due to the fact the early stages of HIV do not have obvious symptoms, it is feared that 50% of all HIV infections in Europe are undiagnosed and in the UK this figure is at 25%. The risk of undiagnosed HIV infection is that people can unknowingly transmit the illness to others.
 
A pilot scheme is to be launched in high HIV prevalence cities such as Brighton, Leicester and Lewisham (London). The testing will target high-risk groups such as men who have sex with men and black Africans. When a patient joins a surgery they will undergo a routine HIV test but still have an opt-out for those who do not want to be tested.
 
While it is important that undiagnosed cases of HIV are identified and treated, it is important to do this within a patient's rights. Sensitivity is needed when testing for HIV as people can find it a very emotionally stressful situation. The scheme will need to ensure that testing is delivered in a sensitive manner so that people do not avoid receiving medical assistance so as to avoid being tested.

(Source: BHIVA HIV Testing Guidelines 2008 and The Times accessed 16.11.09)

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Sex and relationship education opt out limit to be lowered

A parent's right to withdraw their child from sex education classes in England will end once a pupil turns 15 according to new measures, which are due to be introduced in September 2011.

Under current legislation, parents have the right to pull their children out of sex education classes until the age of 19. Reducing this age to 15 will mean that all children in school will receive knowledge of sex education before they turn 16, the legal age of consent in England.

In addition, all schools will have to teach personal, social, health and economic education, which includes faith schools. However, faith schools will be allowed to teach about issues in line with the "context, values and ethos" of their religion according to Ed Balls the Children’s Secretary. This could mean that faith schools will still be allowed to teach that using contraception is wrong.

Sex education is vital for children as it gives young people the skills to make informed choices about their behaviour, and feel confident and competent about acting on these choices. While it is very encouraging that the Government is recognising that action needs to be taken in regards to comprehensive sex and relationship education, more needs to be done. If children are ever going to be able to make informed choices they need to have all the information available.

(Sources Department for Children, Schools and Families accessed 6/11/09)

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NHS lifetime ban on high risk blood to be reviewed

A lifetime ban on gay and bisexual men from donating blood is being reviewed and could be overturned as early as next year. The review comes as the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SABTO) meets today to discuss the evidence behind the ban.

Countries such as New Zealand, Spain, Italy, Japan and Australia have recently overturned their lifetime bans and allow gay men to donate in certain circumstances. Currently a man is prevented from donating blood if he admits to having sex with other men at any time in his life. All blood donations are screened for HIV, Hep B, Hep C and syphilis but very recent infections may not be detected.

A review of The National Blood Service's policy is welcomed as currently it discriminates against men who have sex with men and bisexuals. By reviewing the current legislation it will be possible to examine the evidence and re-evaluate the risk to the blood supply.

(The Times accessed 27/10/09)

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Sex degrees of separation

Lloyds Pharmacy has launched a new Internet calculator that allows a person to calculate how many people they have directly and indirectly had sex with. In an effort to raise awareness of sexually transmitted disease, Lloyds Pharmacy has created the sex degrees of separation tool to show that when a person has sex, that person will have a sexual history which may include STDs.

As Clare Kerr, head of sexual health at Lloydspharmacy said: "When we have sex with someone, we are, in effect, not only sleeping with them, but also their previous partners and their partners' previous partners, and so on. "It's important that people understand how exposed they are to sexually transmitted diseases and take appropriate precautions including using condoms and having checks when necessary.”

By using the theory of six degrees of separation, it is possible to calculate the number of direct and indirect people a person has had sex with. While the theory is not an accurate medical tool, it does raise awareness and by offering this service, it is hoped that more people will take sexual health issues seriously and go forward to be tested for STDs and HIV.

(Sex Degrees of Separation accessed 23/09/09)

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Reduction of crime following heroin drug scheme in clinics

A scheme in which heroin is given to addicts in supervised condition in clinics, has led to big reductions in street crime and the use of street drugs. 

 More than 100 drug users took part in a pilot harm reduction scheme based in London, Brighton and Darlington. About three quarters of those reported have substantially reduced their use of street drugs. Heroin addicts attended these clinics twice a day which provided them with a routine and reduced their needs to commit crimes to get drugs. Those enrolled on the program were also given psychological support and help with their housing and social needs. 

Many people have criticised this scheme claiming the dangers of providing drug users with their drug of choice, costing lots of money to the government, and leaving other people with serious medical conditions overlooked. However The National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse (NTA) said the results were "encouraging". The scheme seems to have worked for people where nothing else has worked before and would benefit anyone in society because these people are no longer committing crimes.

Intravenous drug use is still one of the major routes of HIV transmission. Schemes such as these will also hopefully help at reducing the rates of HIV. 

(BBC News, 15th September 2009)

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Sexual Health Week warns about risks associated with alcohol

Sexual Health Week (14-20th September) has begun with the launch of a campaign aimed at those who fail to drink responsibly. Over the next seven days, the initiative organised by the Family Planning Association (FPA) will focus on promoting the One Too Many campaign across the UK. The campaign aims at raising awareness of the increased risk taking sexual behaviours associated with alcohol.

According to the FPA, there is evidence that people have either had unprotected sex or taken risks after drinking alcohol. Drinking changes decision making, judgements and inhibitions. Sex may seem like a good idea at the time, but regret and worry may creep up the next morning.

More needs to be done to raise this issue, and the FPA has released campaign packs targeted at 18-30 year olds, which includes briefing sheets and tips for the public on how to look after themselves after having a drink. These are to be distributed in sexual health clinics, universities and student's unions across the UK.

(The Family Planning Association; 15th September 2009)

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Widespread Contraception myths in the UK

A survey performed for Bayer Schering Pharma questioned 1,000 women aged 18-50 and has revealed that myths about contraception may still be widespread.

One in five women revealed that they had heard of kitchen items, including bread, cling film and even chicken skin as being used as barrier methods. Bizarrely, food items such as kebabs, crisps or Coca Cola were believed to be a form of oral contraceptive

While contraception myths have existed for thousands of years, it appears that a variety of unsafe and unproven methods might still exist in modern Britain. Confusion surrounding oral contraceptive pills meant that 1 in 10 women questioned believed that it always takes a number of years to regain fertility after the discontinuation of the pill, which is not true as it is possible to conceive straight after coming off the pill.

Of major concern is that a number of those questioned believed that oral contraception offered them protection against HIV. No form of oral contraception can offer protection from HIV and STDs, only regular and proper condom use can prevent HIV transmission.

What this survey shows is that more efforts need to be taken to increase sex and HIV education nation-wide so that accurate information is easily accessible. 

(BBC accessed 07/09/09)

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Those living with HIV are satisfied with their working lives

A report issued this week by the National AIDS Trust looked at the employment situation of those who live with HIV and whether they face discrimination or difficulties in the workplace.

Focusing on gay men living with HIV, it was found that most were satisfied with their work and there was no significant difference between HIV positive and HIV negative men's level of employment satisfaction. 58% of those interviewed reported that living with HIV had no impact on their working lives while those who did feel an impact said it was mostly due to being tired or anxious. Only 11% stated that they felt that their side effects from their treatment regimen affected their working lives.

Positively, 63% had not made any changes to their working lives because of their HIV status and 60% had felt comfortable enough to disclose their status to work colleagues. Nearly half had used the existing flexibility within their jobs to take time off to attend appointments.

Overall, the National AIDS Trust survey showed that for gay men living with HIV having a normal working life was felt to be possible for most people interviewed. But while this is positive there are still concerns about discrimination and many had felt a level of discrimination through previous jobs. Nearly 50% had felt excluded from office affairs while 42% had their confidentiality breached.  As such, improvements can be made to lower the feeling of discrimination and the stigma associated with those living with HIV.

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HIV positive people will be among the first to receive Swine Flu vaccinations

The Department of Heath has announced that people living with HIV will be among the priority groups for the Swine Flu vaccination in the UK, which will be released in the Autumn.

While there have been no indication that people with HIV are at a greater risk of contracting swine flu or developing complications, but the measure will be introduced to ensure that people with HIV are not at a greater risk.

Guidelines already recommend that people with HIV receive an annual flu vaccine as any version of flu, including swine flu, can always cause serious complications. 

It has not been confirmed whether those with a CD4 cell count of less than 200 will be at greater risk of complications but they should always seek medical advice from their HIV clinic if they start to suffer from flu like symptoms which persist of worsen despite antiviral treatment. It can be the case that they are not suffering from flu or Swine flu but instead the symptoms could be an opportunistic infection, mistaken for flu.

The Swine flu vaccine will be provided at GP surgeries within the UK and it is necessary to receive 2 doses of the vaccine. This will be available at the latest of October.

Department of Health Vaccination Programme

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“You never see them catching anything on Skins. And they’re at it all the time!”

Young adults find sex messages confusing

 A report issued today by UNICEF and the Terrence Higgins Trust has found that many young adults find that different messages sent out by TV programmes and magazines contributed to confusion about sex and STDs. Rather then using recognised sexual health websites such as NHS Direct most young adults will consult general website searches which may not offer accurate information. Most would not ask their school for advice but would instead ask their friends.

As such, the authors reported that;
“young people need an engaging multimedia campaign to provide them with accurate sexual health information”

Half of the people surveyed had visited a sexual health clinic and 56% felt that their experience at their local sexual health clinics was positive. However, there was still more room for improvement. Overall, young adults reported that they felt more improvements could be made at sexual health clinics with the majority of people wanting friendlier staff, a more welcoming environment and the ability to book appointments with friends. 

(UNICEF 24.07.09)

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No HIV tests available but free Chlamydia tests at Glastonbury festival

The NHS are setting up screening centres at this years Glastonbury festival, the UK’s largest music festival, in an effort to encourage people aged between 15 and 24 to come along for a free chlamydia test.

While the initiative is to be welcomed and the scale up of chlamydia screening needs to be encouraged there is no effort to promote HIV testing at the festival, despite rapid HIV tests being easy to use and readily available in the UK.

“When there are around a third of people living with HIV in the UK who are unaware that they are HIV positive it seems like a missed opportunity to promote HIV testing among young people” said Annabel Kanabus, Director of AVERT.

(Channel 4 News 16.06.09)

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Campaign groups not satisfied with UK government response to HIV blood victims

In response to a recent inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal of the 1980’s, patients infected with HIV are to be given additional government compensation.

The UK government, however, rejected appeals for a statutory advisory panel to consult patients over the issue of blood product safety. Advocates including the head of the inquiry, Lord Archer, were disappointed with the government response, calling them “a collection of half measures.”

The report into nearly 5,000 UK patients, mostly haemophiliacs, exposed to HIV and Hepatitis C in the 1970/80’s through tainted blood products obtained from prisoners in the US, had requested an overhaul of the victim compensation system. Government Ministers refused this and instead agreed to double the average annual payments for HIV infected victims to £ 12,800 through the Macfarlane and Ellen Trusts. The funding for Hepatitis C patients will continue at existing levels until 2014 when it will be reviewed.

(Department of Health 20.05.09, BBC 20.05.09) 

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Refused UK Asylum seekers denied HIV treatment

The UK Court of Appeal has ruled that asylum seekers who are refused residency in the UK should not be entitled to free NHS treatment and care.

The ruling earlier this week overturns a previous judgement made in April 2008 that classified refused asylum seekers as UK residents and therefore entitled to the same free NHS treatment. This now means that all those wishing to access HIV treatment and care will have to pay for it. Despite this, refused asylum seekers who are already receiving medical treatment for HIV will still be able to continue such treatment for free.

The ruling could have dire implications for those who are unable to afford such treatment and who are unable to return home due to problems in their own native country. The decision by the Court does allow for hospitals to provide free treatment to individuals who cannot afford it. However as this is down to the hospitals own discretion it remains to be seen what affect the ruling will have on the thousands of refused asylum seekers’ access to vital HIV medicine.

(The Guardian, 31.03.09)

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Gay men still the most at risk of acquiring HIV in the UK

New statistics from the Health Protection Agency show that HIV transmission remains at a high level in gay men in the UK, accounting for 38% of all new HIV diagnoses in 2007. The rate is slightly lower than last year but is still at the second highest since reporting began. It is too early to tell if this is due to an actual decline or due to change in reporting methods. However the continued issue of HIV, which affects one in twenty gay men in the UK, shows that a lot more prevention efforts are needed among this group.

Condoms, when used consistently and correctly, offer the best protection from HIV and other STDs and national guidelines advise gay men to test annually for HIV. Early diagnosis means better access to treatment as well as potential significant reduction in the risk of infection to partners.

Read more about gay men, sex, relationships and AIDS on AVERT.org.

(HPA 27.03.09)

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High rate of STDs in the UK provoke change in condom advertising

In response to Britain’s high rate of sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancy, the IAG (the Independent Advisory Group on Sexual Health and HIV), have called for the removal of current restrictions on the advertising of condoms before the 9pm watershed. The proposals would also allow pregnancy advice services, such as Pro and Anti-abortion organisations, to advertise for the first time on UK television.

According to the HPA between 2003 and 2007 more than 13,000 under 16s were diagnosed with an STD in the UK, underlining a clear indication that action must be taken to address a growing number of young people who are becoming infected with STDs. An annual report from the IAG showed that young people believed television was one of the most effective ways of encouraging condom use.

The IAG hopes that by relaxing advertising restrictions, young people will be more familiar with condoms and will be encouraged to use them to prevent STDs and pregnancy. If passed it is expected the new codes will come into practice by 2010.

(Times 26.03.09, HPA)

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New UK teen pregnancy rates show rise for the first time in five years

The number of teenage pregnancies in England and Wales has risen for the first time since 2002 according to new government statistics for 2007.

The government had set a 10-year target of halving the rate of pregnancies by 2010. The new figures appear to have setback any chance of this being achieved. Rates for under-16 conceptions are actually back on the same level as they were in 2000. Despite this rates for all under-18 conceptions have been falling since 2002, up until the most recent 2007 figures.

Sex education in the UK has expanded in the last 10 years though and an emphasis on relationships as well as the biological facts could be reflected in this gradual decline.

The most recent figures however are worrying and suggest more still needs to be done in educating young people about sex, relationships and contraception. The government now needs to ensure they provide comprehensive sexual health education along with accessible contraceptive services so that young people are able to equip themselves with the knowledge and protection they need.

(Department for Children, Schools and Families 26.02.09)

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