The Hong Kong AIDS Prevention Society (HKAPS) has successfully transformed into a professional research institution in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention and care in Hong Kong. Our core research team is led by scholars holding doctoral degrees with extensive experience in public health research, dedicated to conducting high-quality, evidence-based scientific studies. To date, our researchers have published a substantial number of research papers.
Our research direction is closely aligned with the characteristics of Hong Kong's epidemic and its social context, covering multiple critical and in-depth areas. It aims to fill knowledge gaps and provide a scientific basis for prevention and control strategies. This includes exploring the challenges of ageing and long-term care for people living with HIV, analysing structural barriers such as healthcare system issues and cross-border risks, focusing on the unique vulnerabilities of under-researched groups like bisexual men and postmenopausal women, and dedicating efforts to developing technological innovations for prevention tools. Simultaneously, our research delves into the impact of laws and policies, risks among specific occupational groups, the role of family and social support systems, and conducts precise health economics and policy implementation evaluations.
The following are some example research findingd from our team recently submitted to peer-reviewed journals, covering the various research directions mentioned above:
(English version only)
The Impact of School-Based Sexual Health Education in Hong Kong: A Comprehensive Analytical Report
Healthcare Provider Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) in Adolescent HIV Care: A Comprehensive Analytical Report for Hong Kong
Male Sex Workers Serving Men as Bridge Populations in Hong Kong’s HIV Epidemic: The Role of Intersectional Stigma in Prevention and Care Engagement
The Digital Marketplace: Online Solicitation, Anonymity, and HIV Prevention in Hong Kong’s Indoor Sex Industry
Structural Vulnerability and Cross-Border Dynamics: Comparing HIV Risk among Mainland Chinese vs. Local Street-Based Sex Workers in Hong Kong
Reforming the “Offensive Weapons” Ordinance: A Legal and Public Health Analysis of the Impact of Hong Kong’s Laws on the Distribution of Safe-Sex Materials and Comprehensive Sexual Health Education for Adults
Cost-Benefit of a “Status Neutral” Care Model: An Economic Modelling Study to Evaluate the Long-Term Fiscal Impact of Implementing an Integrated “Prevention and Primary Care for All” Model in Targeted Hong Kong Districts
The role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners in the HIV cascade: mapping engagement, developing bidirectional referral and education models
Integrating HIV Prevention into Mental Health and Counselling Services for Young Adults in Hong Kong: A Provider-Initiated Opt-Out Testing Model in Private Practice Settings
Leveraging “Undetectable = Untransmittable” for Serodiscordant Couples: A Family-Centred Counselling Intervention in a Chinese Context
The “Silver Epidemic”: Exploring the Biopsychosocial Needs and Healthcare System Preparedness for Adults Aged 50+ Living with HIV in Hong Kong
HIV, Cognitive Decline, and Social Support: A Comprehensive Report on HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND) among Older Adults in Hong Kong
End-of-Life Planning and Stigma: Investigating Barriers to Palliative Care, Advance Directives, and Dignified End-of-Life Experiences for Older People Living with HIV within the Familial and Institutional Contexts of Hong Kong
PrEP in the Private Sector: Evaluating the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Equity Implications of Pharmacist-Prescribed or Nurse-Led PrEP Delivery Models in Hong Kong’s Private Clinics to Bypass Specialist Bottlenecks
Beyond MSM: HIV Vulnerability among Bisexual Men in Hong Kong - Exploring the Unique Syndemic Risks, Identity Concealment, and Prevention Needs of Bisexual Men Navigating Both Heterosexual and Homosexual Networks
Postmenopausal Women and HIV Risk Perception: A Qualitative Study on Sexual Health Knowledge, Perceived HIV Risk, and Barriers to Condom Negotiation Among Divorced or Widowed Postmenopausal Women in Hong Kong
HIV and Intimate Partner Violence in Same-Sex Female Relationships: A Comprehensive Report on the Intersection of IPV, Mental Health, and HIV Risk Among Women Who Have Sex with Women
Digital PrEP Navigation for the “Tech-Savvy Middle-Aged”: Developing and Testing a Blockchain-Based or Secure Digital Platform for Discrete PrEP Consultation, Prescription, and Pharmacy Navigation for Professionals Aged 40-60 Concerned About Privacy
Using AI Chatbots for HIV Post-Test Counselling and Linkage: Assessing the Efficacy and User Acceptance of a Cantonese-Language AI Chatbot in Providing Initial Post-Test Counselling and Improving Linkage-to-Care Rates
HIV Self-Testing (HIVST) among Migrant Domestic Workers: A Community-Based Participatory Research Project for Filipina and Indonesian Domestic Workers in Hong Kong
We firmly believe that rigorous and comprehensive scientific research is the cornerstone for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies, challenging social stigma, and achieving health equity. The research team of the Hong Kong AIDS Prevention Society will continue to dedicate itself to generating impactful local evidence, contributing professional expertise to advance towards the goal of “zero new infections, zero discrimination” in Hong Kong and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
Academic institutions, healthcare departments, and community organisations are welcome to inquire about research collaboration.
