Socio-demographic and spatial aspects of male mortality from HIV-AIDS related diseases in New South Wales, Australia, 1990-1994

During 1990-1994, a very high proportion of males aged under 40 who died from HIV-AIDs related diseases in New South Wales were never married. However, a significant minority of men aged 40-64 who died had been married at some stage in their lives and in the cities of Newcastle, Wollongong and in higher income areas of Sydney this proportion approached 40%. AIDS related mortality was over-represented in professional, managerial, paraprofessional and service occupations even though educational levels were higher in these groups and, thus, presumably knowledge about risk behaviour and preventative behaviour. AIDS related mortality was also elevated among men with no stated occupation. Thus, with males, AIDS was in part a disease of affluence, even though the highest proportions of those dying resided in lower income areas, where marginalised persons may also be at risk. The proportion of deaths to men over age 40 was markedly higher than that in Australia in the 1980s. Elevated mortality with the New Zealand and the Americas birthplace groups may reflect overseas travel and exposure to risk in overseas countries, of persons domiciled in Australia. There was a very strong spatial pattern of AIDS-related mortality in the inner and eastern suburbs in Sydney and there is limited evidence of persons having migrated back to places of origin to be cared for by families. The impact on total mortality under age 65 in these localised areas was considerable. Prevention strategies should include the sensitive targeting of bisexual men, men generally having sex with men and those who are both gay and members of the drug sub-culture.