Assessments of Public Health and Community Organisation Responses to COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases by LGBTIQA People and Those Living With Blood-borne Viruses

Abstract

This research briefing paper presents preliminary findings from the ‘Diverse Experiences and Understandings of Immunity in the Pandemic Age’ project, conducted in 2022-2023. The aim of this research was to identify how Australians from specific at-risk social and community groups experience and understand the relationship between immunity and good health in an era in which the serious risks to health posed by existing viral infections and diseases are now joined by those from novel diseases such as COVID-19 and mpox. Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted with four key sub-groups: people identifying as LGBTIQA+ and people with lived experience of HIV, hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV). These sub-groups were included in the study because they have extensive experience in dealing with infectious disease prevention and management. Furthermore, they are among those most at risk of further infection from other viruses. The paper covers the participants’ responses to the question ‘How have health communication, public health and community support initiatives helped or hindered participants’ efforts to keep well?’. It includes recommendations for how these agencies and initiatives can better support people and social groups faced with discrimination and socioeconomic inequalities in the future.

Note:

Funding Information: This research briefing paper is an output of the ‘Diverse Experiences and Understandings of Immunity in the Pandemic Age’ research project, funded by UNSW as part of Deborah Lupton’s professorial appointment research support.

Conflict of Interests: I can confirm that there is no conflict of interest associated with this project/research paper.

Ethical Approval: The ‘Diverse Experiences and Understandings of Immunity in the Pandemic Age’ study received approval from the UNSW Human Research Ethics Committee (HC220677) and from ACON’s Research Ethics Review Committee (RERC202225). All participants provided informed consent (written or verbal) prior to the interview.

Keywords: COVID-19, HIV, hepatitis, LGBTIQA+,communities,healthcare,risk,public health

JEL Classification: I14