Study looks into sexual health of Indian migrant men

Over 20 million Indian migrants live outside India and over 300,000 of them live in Australia alone. Overall, Indian migrants constitute more than one percent of the net Australian population.

The University of Sydney is conducting an online survey and study on the impacts of migration on attitudes toward human sexuality, sexual behaviours and sexual health of Indian men living in Australia and is seeking participants.

The study is being conducted by Dr Vijayasarathi Ramanathan as part of his PhD research at the Graduate Program in Sexual Health in the Faculty of Heath Sciences at the University of Sydney.

Dr Ramanathan said the research will be conducted under the chief supervision of Dr Gomathi Sitharthan.

"Despite Indians being a significant immigrant population, there is currently very little information available on the impacts of migration on sexual health," he said.

"It is important for clinicians, researchers and policy makers to have information about psychosocial and cultural impacts of migration on sexual behaviours, sexual knowledge, attitude, values and practices.

"If there is a continued lack of this information, it will limit our ability to anticipate the possible pattern and magnitude of sexual health and disease and to identify any barriers to accessing health information and appropriate care."

The researchers are requesting participants aged 18 and over who are fluent in English to participate in the online survey.

Participation in this survey is voluntary, anonymous and confidential. The survey takes about 20 minutes to complete. Find out more about the survey, or take part, here.

Media interviews and more information:

Dr Vijayasarathi Ramanathan, 0416 634 647, vram4831@uni.sydney.edu.au 

Dr Gomathi Sitharthan, 9351 9584, gomathi.sitharthan@sydney.edu.au 

Media enquiries: Rachel Gleeson, 0403 067 342, 9351 4312, rachel.gleeson@sydney.edu.au