The Drama Downunder is a campaign produced by the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) to address rising rates of sexually transmitted infections among Australian gay men.

There is particular concern that rising rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are partly driving new HIV diagnoses: having an STI can dramatically increase the potential for HIV transmission during sex, as sores and other irritations provide an effective gateway for the virus to pass from one body to the next.

The Drama Downunder multimedia campaign aims to encourage homosexually active men in Australia to improve their knowledge about sexual health, and to get regular sexual health checks. Originally launched in 2006, AFAO has built on the success of the initial campaign by recently launching a new phase of the campaign.

Getting an individual to change their behavior takes time and is part of an ongoing process, explains AFAO president Graham Brown. ’Increasing rates of STIs are still a major concern for gay men. For maximum impact and to get more men going for regular sexual health checks, a campaign such as this needs to be sustained over an extended period of time,’ he said.

STIs are a particular concern for people living with HIV. The campaign provides information specifically for HIV-positive men, about the impact of having HIV and another infection such as hepatitis B or C. It includes information about the effect STIs can have on HIV viral load, about how HIV can make the STI more difficult to treat, and how to reduce the impact that STIs have on the health of people with HIV. Tips include having full sexual health checks when HIV monitoring blood work is done, getting vaccinated for hepatitis A and B, and using condoms.

As Robert Mitchell, President of the National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAPWA) said, ‘Having an STI can have a large impact on the health of someone living with HIV and also make it easier to pass on HIV. This campaign explains what these impacts are and shows why regular sexual health checks are important for all HIV-positive people.’

The campaign materials feature a model in various poses representing different messages about sexual health. In some of the images he is in various states of drama, downunder. In some, his underpants are on fire; in others he has swirls of smoke rising up; and in others he appears happy. This range of images represents the fact that, while many STIs are all too obvious – being painful and/or irritating, others can have no symptoms at all. This makes regular sexual health checks vital for all men who are sexually active.

The campaign also features a website, www.thedramadownunder.info. It provides comprehensive information about STIs, testing and treatment and also features two interactive services. The first is a reminder service, where users can sign up for SMS or email reminders to book in for their sexual health checks. The second is a partner notification service, where people who have recently been diagnosed with an STI can notify their partners via SMS or email – anonymously if they wish – in order to look after the health of their partners.

The Drama Downunder man will be seen throughout Australia in the coming months, on billboards and Adshels, on public transport, in press ads, on gay chat-sites and other websites. He will also appear in a booklet, posters, cruise cards and postcards. Copies of the campaign materials are available from state-based AIDS Councils and People Living with HIV organisations.