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Table 4 Example quotes on participants knowledge levels of HIV and sexual health and experiences of sexual freedom upon arriving in Australia

From: Newly arrived Asian-born gay men in Australia: exploring men’s HIV knowledge, attitudes, prevention strategies and facilitators toward safer sexual practices

Theme 1: Coming to Australia

Example quote

1a. Knowledge about HIV and sexual health

Well, it’s [HIV] a virus, yeah, which can – it’s so difficult to explain. It’s like AIDS, I think. So, if the virus gets into your body, it will destroy your immune system, yeah, that’s what I know from the internet

—Participant 5, Taiwan, 3 years in Australia

1b. Terror of getting HIV

Because it limits your span of life here and it's like your life's going to be limited and people are not going to treat you the same as before

—Participant 24, Philippines, 2 years in Australia

1c. Sexual freedom

For the past few years, for the last year, like crazy, like we had a party, so drunk and I went to the sauna… I had sex with five men, I know it’s so risky, oh my gosh… At that time, I … didn’t know PrEP. Lucky the recent one, he’s the white guy, the western guy—he’s my recent sex partner now, he advised me, you should have the PrEP otherwise it’s going to be so risk, getting HIV Aids. I’m lucky I haven’t got anything

—Participant 4, Thailand, 4 years in Australia