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Social and behavioural sciences | Kirby Institute
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<a class="nav-link nav-link-heading" href="https://www.kirby.unsw.edu.au/">Kirby Institute </a></li> <li class="nav-item nav-lvl-1 active"> <span class="nav-link drilldown-next d-lg-none"> Research <i class="internal-icons arrow-chevron-right d-lg-none"></i> </span> <span class="nav-link active nav-parent">Research</span> <ul class="drilldown-sub mega-menu-wrapper"> <div class="mega-menu-items flex-wrap"> <div class="d-lg-none nav-link drilldown-back"> <span class="nav-link-heading"> <i class="internal-icons arrow-chevron-left"></i> Kirby Institute </span> </div> <div class="d-lg-none nav-link-heading"> <span class="nav-link active nav-parent">Research</span> </div> <li class="nav-item nav-lvl-2"> <span class="nav-link drilldown-next d-lg-none"> Focus areas <i class="internal-icons arrow-chevron-right d-lg-none"></i> </span> <span class="nav-link nav-parent">Focus areas</span> <ul class="drilldown-sub "> <div class="d-lg-none nav-link drilldown-back"> <span class="nav-link-heading"> <i 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Credit: Elke Mitchell/Kirby Institute." src="/sites/default/files/styles/hero_banner/public/images/Research-Fiji-social-science.jpg?h=71976bb4&itok=6DkkAEW1" /> </div> </div> <div class="col-lg-6"> <h1 class="hero-title ">Social and behavioural sciences</h1> <div class="hero-subheading"> <p>It is essential to understand how themes like socioeconomic background, gender, cultural background and identity influence health outcomes.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="node__content"> <div class="container"> <div class="indented-container"> <div class="row"> <div class="col-md-8"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-body-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><strong>Infectious diseases cannot be prevented, treated and cured without understanding the social and behavioural factors affecting how infectious diseases spread, and how medical interventions might be accepted. It is also essential to understand how broader themes like socioeconomic background, gender, cultural background and identity influence health outcomes. This is why at the Kirby Institute we have a strong program of research dedicated to understanding the relationship between society, communities and health.</strong></p> <p>Since our earliest studies, we have worked closely with the individuals and communities who are impacted by infectious disease. Our social and behavioural scientists use both qualitative and quantitative research methods to understand individual behaviour and attitudes that impact on health. 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With this knowledge, we are able to tailor health interventions to suit the community鈥檚 needs and reduce stigma.</li> <li>Our researchers are working closely with local research institutions, health workers, and communities in Papua New Guinea to deliver effective and appropriate testing for HIV, sexually transmissible infections and cervical cancer-causing HPV.</li> <li>We also work with Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations and community leaders to assess and deliver culturally safe programs to improve health.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <h4>Programs working in this area:</h4> <ul> <li><a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="91004170-afef-4dc0-8f94-6cec9fc4bfd5" href="/research/programs/hepp">HIV Epidemiology and Prevention Program</a></li> <li><a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="d597e69b-a1dd-48c5-b701-b205710662cf" href="/research/programs/ghp">Global Health Program</a></li> <li><a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="cd5fb0dd-3d8b-4b10-805b-9d57449679d0" href="/research/programs/vhepp">Viral Hepatitis Epidemiology and Prevention Program</a></li> <li><a data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="b0f86e5a-7031-465c-80c9-83ec9ba92282" href="/research/programs/shp">Sexual Health Program</a></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><a class="btn btn-secondary-border" data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="e005fe8f-88a6-472c-ba1e-1dcf44aca5b5" href="/our-people?combine=&field_research_programs_target_id=All&field_focus_areas_target_id=All&field_research_strengths_target_id=1045&sort_by=&sort_order=">Find a researcher</a><a class="btn btn-primary-border" data-entity-substitution="canonical" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="926ea358-fa0d-4319-94f8-ed9b764db144" href="/research/projects?project_research_program_filter=All&keywords=&field_focus_areas_target_id=All&field_research_strengths_target_id=1045&sort_by=field_date_displayed_value&sort_order=DESC&sorting=field_date_displayed_value%7CDESC">Find a project</a></p></div> </div> <div class="col-md-4"> <div class="node__sidebar"> <div class="field field--name-field-paragraphs-sidebar field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"> <div class="paragraph type-more-news background-alternative-hue node__sidebar kirby_sidebar kirby_sidebar_top"> <div class="container"> <div class="indented-container "> <div class="field field--name-field-recent-news field--type-viewsreference field--label-hidden field__item"><div class="views-element-container"><div class="viewsreference--view-title"> Latest news </div> <div class="view view-node-listings view-id-node_listings view-display-id-last_five js-view-dom-id-23cbb3d3135eeff0e7763d894af182a507f923f95e09ccedc2581bbf96315393"> <div class="view-content"> <nav class="links-menu__nav"> <ul class="links-menu__list"> <li class="links-menu__item"><a href="/news/prof-raina-macintyre-makes-it-prestigious-clarivate-highly-cited-researcher-list-0" class="links-menu__anchor">Prof Raina MacIntyre makes it on to prestigious Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher list</a></li> <li class="links-menu__item"><a href="/news/prof-rebecca-guy-promoted-scientia-professor" class="links-menu__anchor">Prof Rebecca Guy promoted to Scientia Professor</a></li> <li class="links-menu__item"><a href="/news/biographical-memoir-honours-kirby-institutes-inaugural-director-late-david-cooper" class="links-menu__anchor">Biographical memoir honours the Kirby Institute鈥檚 inaugural director, the late David Cooper</a></li> <li class="links-menu__item"><a href="/news/new-partnership-advance-cervical-cancer-elimination-efforts-png" class="links-menu__anchor">New partnership to advance cervical cancer elimination efforts in PNG</a></li> <li class="links-menu__item"><a href="/news/new-research-shows-point-care-sti-testing-way-forward" class="links-menu__anchor">New research shows point-of-care STI testing is the way forward</a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> </main> <footer class="mt-auto "> <div class="container"> <div class="region region-footer"> <div id="block-globalctabar" class="block block-block-content block-block-content2bcff4db-464e-4384-9e19-5f7be98b75e5"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-unfiltered-html-content field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><style type="text/css">.spacer { padding-top:25px; 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