Queenstown's annual Gay Ski Week could become the subject of
a University of Otago "situational risk" study on gay men's
sexual behaviour during major overseas sporting and social
events.
Headed by Dr Peter Saxton, of the university's Auckland-based
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, researchers are
conducting the study entitled "Sun, Snow, Sport, Sex" with
the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society and
Melbourne's La Trobe University in association with the New
Zealand Aids Foundation.
The primary focus is on HIV and the resurgence of syphilis
among gay populations in major Western cities including
Sydney and Melbourne.
The Winter Festival event is billed as the "biggest gay
alpine party in the southern hemisphere" and runs in the last
week of July.
Gay Ski Week New Zealand 2011 (GSWNZ) had been eyed as a
research platform but Dr Saxton said enough valuable data was
gathered from more than 450 gay men who took part in the
study at the second Asia Pacific Outgames held in Wellington
in March.
"We're still thinking of including Gay Ski Week in Queenstown
but probably not until 2012, and it may be that the
logistical and funding issues make it too difficult even
then," Dr Saxton said.
GSWNZ general manager Mike Sanford said he supported the
research and would be happy to help researchers and potential
subjects interact at the event's nightly happy hours.
"We're supportive of any study that would help prevent HIV
and STIs and encourages responsibility with safe sex," he
said.
Dr Saxton said the anonymous, confidential study would
"directly inform HIV prevention work in a range of major gay
events in Australia and New Zealand... and will demonstrate
the feasibility and utility of research on situational risk
at major gay events."
Participants would be presented with questions like "When
you're away from home in a party and sporting environment, do
you take more risks? Do you drink more? Do you have more sex
or different sex?" he said.
The brief questionnaire examines the role being away from
home plays in mediat-ing sexual practice among the sample
group of gay men.
Results from the Asia Pacific Outgames survey were expected
later this year, Dr Saxton said.
- matt.stewart@odt.co.nz
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