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The impact of the “Grim Reaper” national AIDS educational campaign on the Albion Street (AIDS) Centre and the AIDS Hotline
Author(s) -
Morlet Andrew,
Guinan James J.,
Diefenthaler Irwin,
Gold Julian
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1988.tb117836.x
Subject(s) - hotline , medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , intravenous drug , drug abuser , condom , family medicine , virology , substance abuse , viral disease , psychiatry , syphilis , telecommunications , computer science
The national educational programme on the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) caused a dramatic increase in the number of heterosexual persons who presented for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody testing at the Albion Street (AIDS) Centre. There was also a marked increase in the number of intravenous drugs abusers who presented, although the proportion of this high‐risk group that has been tested remains low. There was no increase in the number of homosexual men who presented for testing. The increase in the number of telephone calls that were received by the Centre's AIDS Hotline was due to an interest in HIV‐antibody testing, rather than an interest in information about safer sexual practices. The campaign was seen to have achieved its primary objective, namely, to alert sexually‐active persons of the potential spread of the virus from the high‐risk groups. However, it is clear that future educational campaigns need to target specific high‐risk groups such as intravenous drug abusers. (Med J Aust 1988; 148: 282‐286)