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HIV: 2027 PhD Proposal Outline 1


Title

Bridging HIV Prevention and Care Gaps Among Papua New Guinea and Pacific Migrant Populations in Australia: A Mixed-Methods Study to Support HIV Elimination by 2030

1. Background

Australia has made major progress toward HIV elimination through:

Widespread testing

Antiretroviral therapy (ART)

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)

However, inequities persist:

Migrants (especially from high-prevalence countries) experience:

Lower PrEP uptake

Higher late diagnosis rates

Reduced access to care

Papua New Guinea (PNG):

Higher HIV burden

Strong migration link with Australia

👉 Key issue: HIV is controlled nationally, but not equally across populations.

2. Problem Statement

PNG and Pacific migrants in Australia face:

Structural barriers (e.g., Medicare ineligibility)

Cultural stigma and discrimination

Limited access to HIV prevention and testing

👉 Result:

Delayed diagnosis

Poor engagement in care

Risk to Australia’s HIV elimination goal

3. Aim

To identify and address barriers to HIV prevention, testing, and treatment among PNG and Pacific migrant populations in Australia.

4. Objectives

Assess disparities in HIV prevention (PrEP uptake)

Examine HIV testing patterns and late diagnosis

Identify barriers to treatment access and adherence

Explore social and cultural determinants of care

Develop culturally appropriate intervention strategies

5. Research Questions

Why is PrEP uptake low among PNG/Pacific migrants?

What causes delayed HIV diagnosis?

How do stigma and cultural beliefs affect care?

How does healthcare access influence outcomes?

What interventions can improve HIV service delivery?

6. Significance

Australia

Supports HIV elimination targets

Reduces health inequities

PNG & Indo-Pacific

Strengthens regional health collaboration

Addresses migrant health challenges

Global

Contributes to UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals

7. Innovation

Focus on PNG/Pacific migrants (under-researched group)

Combines:

Epidemiology

Community-based research

Policy translation

Includes co-designed interventions, not just analysis

8. Theoretical Framework

Social Determinants of Health

HIV Care Continuum (Cascade Model)

Intersectionality Theory

👉 Allows analysis of structural + cultural + individual factors

9. Methodology

Design

Mixed-methods (Sequential Explanatory)

Phase 1: Quantitative

National HIV datasets

Compare:

Australian-born vs migrant populations

Methods:

Regression analysis

Trend analysis

Phase 2: Qualitative

Interviews with:

PNG/Pacific migrants

Healthcare providers

Thematic analysis

Phase 3: Intervention

Community-based co-design

Develop:

HIV testing model OR

PrEP access strategy


10. Expected Outcomes

Identification of key barriers

Policy recommendations

Culturally appropriate HIV intervention model

3–5 journal publications


11. Impact

Academic:

Contribution to HIV and migrant health research

Policy:

Inform national HIV strategies

Community:

Improve access and outcomes for PNG/Pacific migrants


12. Feasibility

Data available nationally

Strong research support at Griffith University

Clear 3-year structure


13. Timeline (Summary)

Year 1: Literature + quantitative analysis

Year 2: Qualitative study

Year 3: Intervention + writing


14. Why This Proposal is Strong for RTP

✔ National priority (HIV elimination)

✔ Equity focus (migrant health)

✔ Regional relevance (PNG–Australia)

✔ Strong methodology

✔ Clear real-world impact


👉 Supervisors to contact now: 

Cordia Chu, Bernadette Sebar, and Lennert Veerman for RTP funding success.

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