STUDY TOPS 3000 RESPONSES TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF GAY BLOOD BAN, WORKS TO REACH RAINBOW MĀORI AND PASIFIKA COMMUNITIES

SPOTS – The Sex and Prevention of Transmission Study – launched in April with aims to make blood donation fairer for gay, bisexual, takatāpui and other men who have sex with men (MSM), is nearing the end of its collection phase, due to conclude 30 June. To date, researchers have received over 3018 responses, bringing them closer to their goal of collecting 4000 responses from MSM across Aotearoa.

The study is the largest of its kind to be conducted in New Zealand and is led by the University of Auckland in partnership with the University of Otago and community organisations: NZ AIDS Foundation, Body Positive, Māori sexual health organisation Te Whāriki Takapou and the NZ Blood Service.

Within a week of its launch, the study recorded over 1000 survey responses from across the motu, indicating a widespread interest in the study’s goal to make access to blood services more equitable in the future. Lead researcher Dr. Peter Saxton, Associate Professor at Auckland University’s School of Population Health, reflecting on the widespread uptake to date, comments that: “COVID-19 cancelled our fieldwork plans at Pride events, so we went online and invited our communities to come to us. We’ve been humbled by the incredible response so far. Not only have our communities taken the survey, they’ve also shared the SPOTS social media to their own friends and whānau. That endorsement is helping us reach people from all walks of life. It means the study findings will reflect a rich diversity of voices, equipping us with data necessary to advocate for change and make lives better for our communities.”

Since the study’s early phases, organisers have engaged with Aotearoa’s MSM community in its entirety, welcoming responses from individuals who identify as gay, bisexual, queer, questioning or straight, and from community members with diverse gender identities. Saxton says: “The SPOTS study aims to challenge the 'gay blood ban' but also improve HIV prevention and ultimately end HIV transmission in Aotearoa. So we need to hear from all those most affected by HIV in Aotearoa: MSM regardless of how they identify; younger men (cis and trans) who are queer but haven’t had sex; and trans and non-binary people who are having sex with MSM.”

Central to the study’s kaupapa is a commitment to engage with Aotearoa’s Māori MSM communities. One of the key partners for this study is Māori sexual health organisation Te Whāriki Takapou. Their involvement since the study’s conception has ensured that the messaging, processes, and outreach, have taken into consideration the needs of takatāpui tāne and other Māori MSM. Kevin Haunui, Lead Research Partner at Te Whāriki Takapou comments that, "With any New Zealand study there is a responsibility to specifically address Māori needs. Inviting Takatāpui Tāne and Māori MSM to participate in SPOTS highlights a commitment to Māori that will inform prevention services for Māori."

Thus far, the team have 390 participants from Māori community members, being 13% of the study’s total responses. Pasifika community members comprise 3.3% of the total responses, at 99 participants. These numbers indicate that, while this is a strong start, there is still room for more responses from Māori and Pasifika MSM.

"Kia kaha Takatāpui ma, kaua e whakama - SPOTS is about you, by you, for you", adds Kevin Haunui

To make access to Aotearoa’s blood services more equitable in the future, any changes to policy need to reflect the experiences of all MSM in Aotearoa. By encouraging Rainbow community members of diverse and intersectional identities to be involved in the study, it ensures that this diversity of experience is reflected in the data collected and, in turn, any future policy changes that may result from this study.

With collections due to close on 30 June, researchers encourage anyone who is eligible, or anyone who knows someone who may be eligible, to check out their website, or to connect with the study on social media, and learn how they can help work towards a future with more equitable access to blood services for all New Zealanders.

The study is funded by the Health Research Council of NZ and the Ministry of Health and has ethics approval from HDEC (2021 EXP 11450).

www.SPOTS.org.nz

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