Improving our understanding of HIV notifications among people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds in Australia
By Ela Naruka, Research Officer, Kirby Institute, October 23, 2024
Over the past decade (2014-2023), there has been a 21.5% increase in HIV notifications among people from CALD backgrounds. In 2014, there were 306 notifications (28% of total notifications), which rose to 372 (51% of total notifications) in 2023. This significant rise highlights the growing impact of HIV within these communities.
During this period, the highest proportion of HIV notifications was among people born in Southeast Asia, accounting for 40% of the cases. The primary exposure risk category was men who have sex with men (MSM), which constituted 63% of the notifications. Alarmingly, 40% of the total notifications from CALD backgrounds were diagnosed late, defined as having a CD4+ count of less than 350 cells/µL at diagnosis, during the last decade.
Additionally, 28% of the total notifications among people from CALD backgrounds reported heterosexual sex as the exposure risk, out of which with 51% were diagnosed late. The proportion of late diagnoses increased in both MSM (from 26% in 2014 to 36% in 2023) and heterosexual exposure categories (ranging from 44% in 2014 to 54% in 2023).
By the end of 2022, an estimated 7,942 people from CALD backgrounds were living with HIV in Australia. Of these, 18% were undiagnosed, compared to 5% undiagnosed of the estimated people born in Australia living with HIV and 2% undiagnosed of those born in main English-speaking countries living with HIV. This disparity underscores the challenges faced by CALD populations in accessing timely HIV diagnosis and care.