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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HIV cases in Scotland continue to rise

Despite a decline in newly identified cases of HIV in 2008, annual averages of the number of cases reported in Scotland continue to increase according to new statistics from Health Protection Scotland.

The statistics do show some encouraging results among men who have sex with men (MSM) with a decline in reported infections and although there was a slight increase among Injecting Drug Users (IDUS), both groups continue to show very low rates of transmission.

However, the numbers of non-IDU heterosexual HIV transmissions continue to rise. Every year since 2000 the number of HIV cases reported among this group has always exceeded that of MSM and IDU transmissions. Again, although the numbers for 2008 showed a decline, on average they continue to rise with 2007 seeing the highest annual total since records began.

There are more people living with HIV infection in Scotland than ever before and this is reflected in the fact that the number of individuals in specialist care has more than doubled since 2000.
The result of these new statistics leaves Scotland with two major challenges. There is the need to ensure that the downward trend in new HIV infections Scotland has experienced in the last year continues, but the country must also ensure that all those individuals already infected will receive the treatment and care they need.

(Health Protection Scotland, 06.02.09)

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UK AIDS Strategy unlikely to meet targets

The UK global AIDS strategy created by DFID, the Department for International Development, is unlikely to meet the targets it set out in its £6 billion strategy released in June according to a committee of MPs.

The strategy; Achieving Universal Access: the UK’s strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world, was launched earlier this year and set out plans to achieve universal access to HIV prevention and treatment by 2010. The International Development Committee have criticised the government strategy and do not believe that these targets are achievable by the set date.

In regards to how the money will be spent the IDC said, “ We find the strategy to be strong on rhetoric but weak in communicating how DFID will implement it”.

On World AIDS day whilst announcing a new £15 million funding plan for South Africa DFID defended what the IDC had said about their strategy saying that the UK is widely acknowledged as a world leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

DFID are to publish a monitoring and evaluation framework to measure the impact of the strategy that will include country progress reports and an independent review to evaluate the strategy and accountability of it. 

(BBC, 30.11.08. International Development Committee Twelfth Report, 30.11.02)

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UK has highest number of HIV diagnoses in men who have sex with men in Europe says study

In a study of new HIV diagnoses in men who have sex with men (MSM) across Europe it was shown the annual number of diagnoses has increased by 86% between 2000 and 2006, and the UK had the highest number overall in 2006. However more dramatic increases were shown in low prevalence countries in Central and Eastern Europe; in Slovenia the figure had more than doubled.

Late diagnoses in MSM in Europe had decreased from 25% in 2000 to 10% in 2006. This shows an increase in HIV testing and therefore may have been a factor in the higher numbers of European MSM diagnosed however the authors caution “in some countries this probably represents a true increase in incidence”. The authors highlight the need for a European HIV prevention strategy. Regular testing is necessary to ensure early diagnosis in order to tackle HIV in at risk groups in the UK and across Europe.

AVERT has pages on European HIV statistics and an AIDS in the UK section.

(NAM 28.11.08)

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Heterosexual HIV transmission doubles in the UK with an overall rise in HIV prevalence

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) estimates the number of people living with HIV in the UK has risen from 73,000 to 77,400 this year. A quarter of whom are unaware of their infection and almost a third are being diagnosed late.

Heterosexual men and women were found to be the most likely to be diagnosed late and infection has doubled within this group. Nearly eighty percent of new infections acquired among heterosexuals were reported to have been whilst abroad.

Gay men and people of African origin in the UK continue to be the most affected groups. Sex between men accounts for forty percent of new cases of infection but gay men are the most likely to test for HIV. There is still a high HIV prevalence among UK black Africans, which the report linked to the epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Ninety percent of new infections among this group were acquired abroad, predominantly from heterosexual sex or from mother to child transmission.

One in five people diagnosed, with a CD4 cell count of below 200cells/mm3, were not on ART. The HPA recommends routine testing in primary care in line with BHIVA guidelines for the UK released earlier this year. In particular the strengthening of sexual health interventions for the most at risk groups were highlighted. The need for prevention, testing and in particular starting ARV treatment earlier is key to reducing the rate of HIV in the UK.

For more UK HIV and AIDS statistics by exposure category follow the link.

(NAM 25.11.08, HPA 25.11.08)

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Only half of nurses in the UK receive training on using needles safely

A poll of 2000 nurses in the UK has found that only 55% said they had received training about using needles safely while 48% reported having a needlestick injury at some time in their career.

Since figures started in the late 1990s there have been five cases of health staff becoming infected with HIV through needlesticks and eleven cases of hepatitis being caught from needle jabs.

Although extensive guidance has been produced on the handling of needlestick injuries, the need for measures in the actual prevention of needlstick injuries has not been addressed.

The figures prove that universal precautions and sufficient training for nurses is needed to prevent HIV transmission from happening in the future.

For more go to the AVERT page on Health care workers and HIV prevention.

(BBC, 19.11.08)

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HIV diagnosed too late for many Africans in the UK

A new report by the Health Protection Agency has emphasised the importance of early diagnoses in black African and Caribbean communities in the UK. The report calls for enhanced sexual health services to be provided to these groups and especially to men who have sex with men (MSM) within these demographics.

The HPA and the National AIDS trust believe GPs could also do more to help the situation and expand HIV testing in order to curb increased illness, death and further infections amongst Africans in the UK.

Latest figures from 2007 show that HIV diagnoses among black Africans made up 40% of all new diagnoses in the UK in that year. The report highlights a number of key findings and believes more can be done to promote early diagnoses. There is a need for raised awareness about the importance of testing among black African and Caribbean communities so that those who are diagnosed HIV positive can start treatment sooner.

Dr Barry Evans, Consultant Epidemiologist and Head of the Health Protection Agency’s HIV Unit highlighted the need for raised awareness by saying:

“People need to know that testing for HIV and all sexually transmitted infections is both free and confidential at Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) clinics (sexual health clinics) across the UK. If you have had unprotected sex with a new or casual partner you should go and get tested."

For more on this go to AVERTs  HIV and AIDS amongst Africans in the UK page.

(Onmedica, 07.11.08)

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New DFID £220m fund for research does not guarantee money for HIV

A new £220m fund has been announced by DFID, the UK Department for International Development. Although hailed as the motivation needed for a new drive to combat the HIV epidemic, DFID say the money is to be used to “fund projects that are developing new prevention technologies for diseases such as HIV.” This does not guarantee any money for HIV research.

It is not clear either whether the money, which is being spread over the next five years, is actually new money being put forward or is coming out of an existing AIDS prevention budget. Although the announcement was made to an audience of scientists and HIV experts there has been no clarity on how the money is actually to be spent or what percentage, if any, is actually going towards HIV research.

The confusion is confounded further by the fact that DFID have described HIV as a “neglected tropical disease” which it is not. Neglected tropical diseases are in contrast to diseases such as HIV, TB and malaria as they do not receive the funding and attention that these three major diseases do.

DFID have said they are committed to stopping the global spread of HIV by announcing this pledge of money but need to be clearer on how much is being spent on research and development for HIV and AIDS specifically.

For more information about HIV funding go to AVERTs page on Funding for the HIV and AID epidemic.

(Department for International Development, 04.11.08)

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UK government to make sex education in schools compulsory

Sex education in primary and secondary schools is to be made compulsory in England the UK government has revealed today.

With the UK having the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Europe the announcement is seen as a measure to counter this statistic and improve relationship skills and responsibilities among young people. Although there has been a drop in the number of teenage pregnancies in recent years the number of abortions and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are still on the rise.

The need for compulsory sex education has come about through strong recommendations from experts and data that shows, for example, the number of abortions performed on girls under 16 in 2007 had risen by 10%. All of which, the government says, points towards the evident need for an improvement in sexual health knowledge and awareness among young people.

It is not clear yet how this education will take form but where now it is compulsory only to teach children about the biology of reproduction, the new initiative will incorporate relationship-based education. It is hoped the emphasis of teaching about relationships as well as contraception and sex will help improve behaviour and teach young people that there is more to having safe sex than simply putting on a condom. It is the relationship side of sex education that will be focussed at primary school level, placating fears of five year olds learning about condom use and STD’s.

With the government setting up a review of how best to improve teaching in this area, it is hoped that sex education will be greatly improved as a result.

AVERT has extensive information about sex and teens, sex education in schools and also examples of peoples own stories of sex education.

(BBC News, 23.10.08)

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Four in Ten UK Gay Men with HIV are Undiagnosed

Presented to the British HIV Association (BHIVA) Autumn Conference on the 10th October was the news that approximately four in ten gay men in the UK with HIV are unaware as testing is not done routinely enough. Mathematic modelling suggested half of gay men diagnosed this year probably acquired the infection in 2007. The conference also highlighted an even greater problem of HIV and AIDS among Africans in the UK of whom six in ten with HIV are undiagnosed.

Whilst in America 92% of gay men have been tested for HIV and 96% in Australia, in the UK only 67% of gay men have had an HIV test. The problem with this undiagnosed population is that among these men many may have HIV but are currently unaware of their status increasing the risk of transmission to others. As these men are undiagnosed they are also not receiving treatment.

Suggested explanations for poor uptake of testing among gay men include:
∗    Fear of the test and a possible HIV positive result.
∗    Fear of stigma and discrimination associated with HIV.
∗    Fear of possible prosecution if seen to have ‘knowingly’ passed on the infection.

In light of the last Health Protection Report, which showed the gay men who are most likely to have HIV are those who are least likely to take the test, this is worrying. The new statistics reported at the conference support recommendations made in the most recent BHIVA guidelines for the UK that HIV testing should be routinely offered in primary care. Although this method of testing is still contested by many, the importance of gay men being tested is clearly very great.

Follow the link for more information about HIV & AIDS in the UK.

(AIDSMAP 15.10.08)

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Concern over new HIV testing recommendations

BHIVA, the British HIV Association, has issued new testing guidelines with the recommendation that all 15-59 year olds in some areas of England should be offered HIV tests by their GP.

In areas where there are more than two HIV cases for every 1,000 people, it is recommended that everyone should be offered a test when they register with a GP. This would mean that around 20% of the population would be offered an HIV test.

The idea behind the new guidelines is to try and prevent the problem of late diagnosis. According to Professor Peter Borriello, Director of the Health Protection Agency’s Centre for Infections, around a third of the 73,000 people living with HIV in the UK are unaware that they have the infection. Late diagnosis is also the most important factor associated with HIV-related morbidity and mortality in the UK. BHIVA hope that the guidelines will ‘normalise’ testing and remove stigma.

Whilst efforts to overcome the problem of late diagnosis are generally to be welcomed, AVERT has concerns about these “guidelines” which are recommendations produced by BHIVA, an association that is primarily made up of HIV specific hospital based doctors. Despite the fact that BHIVA are making recommendations that have significant implications for GPs and other healthcare professionals, it does not appear that these recommendations have been endorsed by any organisations that represents GPs or nurses.

AVERT is concerned that if these recommendations were to be adopted that it could make people more reluctant to register with a GP, or change their current GP, and that the recommendations could use considerable resources without overcoming the problem of late diagnosis. AVERT believes it to be the case that if people at risk in relatively high prevalence areas are targeted properly, then a universal approach to testing would not be necessary.

For more information go to AVERTs testing page and AIDS in the UK page.
 

(BBC News 22.09.08)

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