1. Measuring sustained behavioural change and
reduced HIV risk resulting from peer-based
sexual health screening and counselling amongst
men who have sex with men in Western Australia
Dr Kurt J. Sales
M Clinic Coordinator

2. • STIs such as Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea and Syphilis increase the
risk of HIV infection during unprotected sexual contact .1,2
• M Clinic is an STI/HIV screening clinic.
• Established in 2010 by the WAAC
• Provides an integrated peer-based STI screening, treatment and
prevention service for MSM in WA
• Current client numbers ~ approximately 2800
Introduction
1. Fleming DT, Wasserheit JN. 1999. Sexually Transmitted Infections 75:3
2. Jin F, Prestage GP, Mao L, et al.,.2007. Sexually Transmitted Infections 83(2):113.

3. AIM
To reduce the prevalence and impact of STIs within gay
men and men who have sex with men (MSM) communities,
through the provision of peer education, accessible testing
and treatment services which prevent downstream
infection and susceptibility to infection with HIV.

4. Methods
• Clients classified as New or Returning
• New clients are regarded as naïve to M Clinic services
• Returning clients had attended M Clinic previously
• Each client completed a self-collected risk assessment and attended
a counselling session with a peer educator prior to clinical service.

5. 1. Client calls to
make
appointment
2. Client arrives for
appointment:
Fills out SCRA
3. Client attends
interview with peer
educator
4. Hand over of
client to
Nurse/Doctor
5. Results
appointment one week
later (SMS, Tel.
Or In Person)
Client Journey Through M Clinic

6. 0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
<18 18-25 26-29 30-39 40-49 50-59 >60
NumberofClients
New
Returning
Total
654
1927
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
New Returning
TotalNumberofClients
Age
Number of Clients Attending
M Clinic in 2013

7. **
** 57.5% reduction; P<0.01
Infections in 18-29yrs
*P=ns
*
*** 65.9% reduction; P<0.0001
***
* 59.2% reduction; P<0.05
*

8. *
*
* 40% reduction; P=ns* 40% reduction; P=ns

9. Conclusions
• Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis and HIV infections are all
reduced in returning clients compared with new clients.
• This suggests that peer education and peer-based sexual health
screening services have a positive influence in inducing
behavioural change and reducing HIV risk in MSM.

10. Acknowledgements
M Clinic Peer Educators
• Justin Manuel
• Daniel Newton
M Clinic Nurses
• Garry Kuchel
• Matthew Jones
M Clinic Doctors
• Lewis Marshall
• Paul Effler
• Donna Mak
• Kevin O’Connor
• Mohamed Gaber
WAAC
• Andrew Burry
• Lisa Tomney