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Mowlabocus' research (2006-present) on gay men's social-media-use practices and new sexual-risk behaviours has led to new understandings of the role of media in health interventions. It has also led to changes in the health promotion and intervention practices of sexual health charities including the Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), as well as in statutory services, including those offered within Brighton and Hove City Primary Care Trust, which covers an area with the highest UK percentage LGBT population and a very high incidence of HIV diagnosis and infection. These changes include, in the case of THT, the development and use of a new information website and intervention toolkit — designed to decrease the spread of HIV amongst those engaged in unsafe behaviours — which is being used in training for its staff across its 31 regional offices in the UK.
The research featured in this impact case study was carried out by Dr. Claire Hines, Darren Kerr, Dr. Donna Peberdy and Dr. Mark de Valk. Their work has influenced creative practice and cultural expression, contributed to the creative economy, encouraged knowledge transfer, and has been part of wider discourses that have helped to inform on-going public debate concerning sex and sexuality on screen, such as research-informed objections to Section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 - more colloquially known as the `Extreme Porn Bill' <www.backlash-uk.org.uk>.
The work of White has led to a re-appraisal of men's risk of premature death, both in the UK and abroad. His analysis of morbidity and mortality data has helped stimulate a worldwide debate on the health of men and the risks they face with their health. In the UK, analysis of cancer data has led the leading cancer charities to have a rethink on men's risk of cancer. The EC State of Men's Health in Europe report has helped create a new insight into the equality needs of men and stimulated the production of similar reports globally.
Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at highest risk of acquiring HIV in the UK and an estimated one-quarter of HIV-infected MSM have not been diagnosed. The Gay Men's Sexual Health (GMSH) Survey, conducted by University of Glasgow researchers, has provided robust evidence of sexual behaviours as well as prevention and testing activities of MSM in Scotland since 1996. These findings have shaped health policies in Scotland, the UK and Europe and have been used by health practitioners in the conduct of successful NHS sexual health campaigns in Scotland. The campaigns have been credited with increased testing rates and increased awareness of HIV risks demonstrating the effectiveness of direct promotion of sexual health awareness within the gay community.
The National Surveys of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal) have made major contributions to sexual health policy in Britain, and are widely regarded as among the most reliable sources of scientific data in the field, not replicated with such frequency, detail or sample size in a single country anywhere in the world. Since 2008 they have influenced (amongst other things) HIV services, HPV vaccination policy, the national chlamydia screening programme, teenage pregnancy strategy and health education campaigns for young people and gay men. Our data are widely used in the NHS and third sector. We have disseminated the results of our research through public engagement activities including extensive media work, podcasts, and science festivals.