A new study by the Kirby Institute is surveying the attitudes of gay and bisexual men towards blood donation following recent rule changes.
Lifeblood announced earlier this year that men will no longer be asked in the pre-donation questionnaire if they have recently had sex with a man.
Instead, all donors will be asked the same questions about sexual activity, regardless of gender.
The changes take effect on April 20 and follow the removal of sexual activity rules for plasma donations last year.
Ahead of the changes, the Kirby Institute is assessing gay and bisexual men’s reactions to document their experiences.
Dr Rachel Thrope, a senior research fellow at Australian Red Cross, told Gay Sydney Daily the aim was to understand the views of gay and bisexual men on the history of blood eligibility policies.
“The aim of this research (interview study) is to investigate the understandings and views of gay and bisexual men aged 50 + on the history of sexual-behaviour eligibility policies for blood donation in Australia and, how these understandings shape views on donating blood or plasma once eligible,” she said.
She said the study is focusing on HIV-negative gay and bisexual men aged over 60 who either donated blood more than five years ago, have been interested in donating, or are likely to be eligible under the rule changes.
She told GSD that research from other countries has identified generational differences in willingness to donate blood following eligibility changes.
“We therefore wanted to explore the perspectives of men in this age group, some of whom may have donated before the introduction of sexual behaviour screening, or may have donated, or wanted to donate, over the years,” she said.
“We thought they might offer unique insights into the impact of sexual behaviour screening over time. These perspectives are important in helping us understand willingness to return to donate or to donate for the first time.”
Research Fellow at the Kirby Institute Yasmin Mowat said the study is also examining awareness of the current rules and their real-world impacts.
“Ultimately, the goal is to generate evidence that can help inform policies that are both safe and as fair and inclusive as possible, so that more people who want to donate blood are able to do so,” Mowat said.
Restrictions on blood donations for men who have sex with men were introduced in the 1980s during the HIV epidemic, and Mowat said that while policies have evolved, history still shapes how they are perceived.
“For some individuals, the rules can feel exclusionary or not reflective of their actual risk, which can contribute to feelings of discrimination or being unfairly judged. Some men who presented to donate who did not understand the deferral had negative experiences in blood collection centres, and report feeling humiliated, discriminated against and dehumanised,” she said.
“Acknowledging that these experiences occurred, and that they should not have, is an important step in rebuilding trust, particularly among men who have sex with men.”
Rodney Croome, a spokesperson for the Let Us Give campaign, said he supported the research and hoped it would show how damaging the ban was.
“Not being able to donate has stigmatised gay and bisexual men as a threat to public health,” he said.
“It has denied us the opportunity to give the gift of life to other Australians in need.”
Croome welcomed the changes made by Lifeblood but said more work was needed, arguing the current six-month wait period should be reduced to three months in line with the U.K., U.S. and Canada.
“The six-month period indirectly stigmatises gay and bisexual men by sending the message that extra precautions have to be taken now we can donate,” he said.
“Lifeblood has said it will review the six-month wait period and Let Us Give will hold them to that.”
