Dr Asha Persson

Dr Asha Persson is a Research Fellow with the Centre for Social Research in Health (formerly the National Centre in HIV Social Research). She was awarded a PhD in social anthropology from Sydney University in 2001. She took up her position at CSRH in 2001.

Research Areas
Asha is part of the HIV team and her research is primarily focused on "living with HIV". Over the past 12 years, she has conducted a range of qualitative projects on the social and lived aspects of HIV. Her research interests include the lived experiences of medical side effects, lipodystrophy and body image, HIV in regional NSW (Northern Rivers), cultural discourses of health and illness, and living heterosexually with HIV. Her current work explores the social, sexual and emotional management of HIV in couples with mixed HIV status (serodiscordance), and on HIV-positive children transitioning to adolescence and adulthood. Her research aims to draw attention to the experiences and needs of previously under-researched populations in the HIV epidemic and to contribute to scholarly knowledge of the cultural interplay between illness, medicine, gender, sexuality and society.

Asha has published widely in high-profile international journals in the fields of health sociology, medical anthropology, cultural studies and HIV.

Areas of expertise for supervision
Social anthropology, ethnography, cultural phenomenology, embodiment, medicine, cultural practice, gender and sexuality, health and illness, HIV/AIDS.

Book Chapters

• Persson AS;Hughes SD, 2016, 'Making “difference”: New perspectives on HIV serodiscordance.', in Persson AS; Hughes SD (ed.), Cross-cultural perspectives on couples with mixed HIV status: Beyond positive/negative., edn. 1, Springer, Switzerland, pp. 1 - 12, http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-42725-6_1
• Newman CE;Persson AS;Ellard J, 2016, 'Pills, providers and partners: Exploring trust among serodiscordant couples in Australia', in Persson AS; Hughes S (ed.), Cross-cultural perspectives on couples with mixed HIV status: Beyond positive/negative, Springer, pp. 265 - 276, http://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-42725-6
• Persson AS;Newman CE;Miller A, 2016, ''There's more to you than just this virus': Young people growing up with perinatally acquired HIV in Australia', in Liamputtong P (ed.), Children and Young People Living with HIV/AIDS : a cross-cultural perspective, edn. Cross-Cultural Research in Health, Illness and Well-Being, Springer International Publishing, pp. 107 - 124, http://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-29936-5

Journal articles

• Persson AS;Newman CE;Manolas P;Holt M;Callander D;Gordon T;de Wit J, 2017, 'Challenging perceptions of “straight”: Heterosexual men who have sex with men and the cultural politics of sexual identity categories', Men and Masculinities, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1097184X17718586
• Newman CE;Persson A;Manolas P;Schmidt HM A;Ooi C;Rutherford A;de Wit J, 2017, '“So Much Is at Stake”: Professional Views on Engaging Heterosexually Identified Men who Have Sex with Men with Sexual Health Care in Australia', Sexuality Research and Social Policy, pp. 1 - 10, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13178-017-0291-z
• Persson A;Newman CE;Ellard J, 2017, 'Breaking Binaries? Biomedicine and Serostatus Borderlands among Couples with Mixed HIV Status', Medical Anthropology: Cross Cultural Studies in Health and Illness, pp. 1 - 15, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01459740.2017.1298594
• Persson A;Newman CE;Miller A, 2017, 'Caring for ‘underground’ kids: qualitative interviews with clinicians about key issues for young people growing up with perinatally acquired HIV in Australia', International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, vol. 22, pp. 1 - 15, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2013.866149
• Persson A;Newman CE;Mao L;de Wit J, 2016, 'On the Margins of Pharmaceutical Citizenship: Not Taking HIV Medication in the “Treatment Revolution” Era', Medical Anthropology Quarterly, vol. 30, pp. 359 - 377, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/maq.12274
• Newman CE;Persson A;Bains A;De Wit J, 2016, 'Whose voices inform online representations of HIV treatment as prevention?', AIDS, vol. 30, pp. 808 - 810, http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/QAD.0000000000000983
• Persson A, 2016, '‘The world has changed’: pharmaceutical citizenship and the reimagining of serodiscordant sexuality among couples with mixed HIV status in Australia', Sociology of Health & Illness, vol. 38, pp. 380 - 395, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.12347
• Persson A;Ellard J;Newman CE, 2016, 'Bridging the HIV Divide: Stigma, Stories and Serodiscordant Sexuality in the Biomedical Age', Sexuality and Culture, vol. 20, pp. 197 - 213, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12119-015-9316-z
• Newman CE;Persson A;Miller A;Brown RJ, 2015, ''Just take your medicine and everything will be fine': Responsibilisation narratives in accounts of transitioning young people with HIV into adult care services in Australia', AIDS Care, pp. 1 - 6, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2015.1069790
• Newman CE;de Wit J;Persson A;Holt M;Slavin S;Kidd MR;Post JJ;Wright E;Mao L, 2015, 'Understanding Concerns About Treatment-as-Prevention Among People with HIV who are not Using Antiretroviral Therapy', AIDS and Behavior, vol. 19, pp. 821 - 831, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0959-9
• Newman CE;Mao L;Persson A;Holt M;Slavin S;Kidd MR;Post JJ;Wright E;De Wit J, 2015, ''Not Until I'm Absolutely Half-Dead and Have To:' Accounting for Non-Use of Antiretroviral Therapy in Semi-Structured Interviews with People Living with HIV in Australia', AIDS Patient Care and STDs, vol. 29, pp. 267 - 278, http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/apc.2014.0301
• Hasan MK;Aggleton P;Persson A, 2015, 'Rethinking Gender, Men and Masculinity: Representations of men in the South Asian Reproductive and Sexual Health Literatures', International Journal of Men's Health, vol. 14, pp. 146 - 162, http://dx.doi.org/10.3149/jmh.1402.146
• Persson A;Brown G;McDonald A;Körner H, 2014, 'Transmission and prevention of HIV among heterosexual populations in Australia', AIDS Education and Prevention, vol. 26, pp. 245 - 255
• Newman C;Persson A;Miller A;Cama E, 2014, 'Bridging worlds, breaking rules: Clinician perspectives on transitioning young people with perinatally acquired HIV into adult care in a low prevalence setting', AIDS Patient Care and STDs, vol. 28, pp. 381 - 393, http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/apc.2013.0346
• Persson A, 2014, 'Significant ambivalence: perspectives of Australian HIV service providers on universal treatment-as-prevention (TasP) for serodiscordant couples', Critical Public Health, vol. 17 February, pp. 1 - 12, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09581596.2014.886005
• Persson A, 2014, '"I don't blame that guy that gave it to me": Contested discourses of victimisation and culpability in the narratives of heterosexual women infected with HIV', AIDS Care, vol. 26, pp. 233 - 239, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2013.811207
• Persson A;Newman CE;Hopwood M;Kidd MR;Canavan PG;Kippax SC;Reynolds RH;De Wit JB F, 2014, 'No ordinary mainstream illness: How HIV doctors perceive the virus', Qualitative Health Research, vol. 24, pp. 6 - 17, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1049732313514139
• Newman CE;Persson A;Paquette DM;Kidd MR, 2013, 'The new cultural politics of the waiting room: Straight men, gay-friendly clinics and 'inclusive' HIV care', Sexuality Research and Social Policy, vol. 10, pp. 87 - 96, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13178-013-0111-z
• Hopwood MN;Newman C;Persson A;Watts I;de Wit J;Reynolds R;Canavan P;Kippax S;Kidd M, 2013, 'Expert perspectives on the contribution of HIV general practice nursing to the 'extraordinary story' of HIV medicine in Australia', Primary Health Care Research and Development, vol. 15, pp. 180 - 189, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1463423613000108
• Newman CE;Persson A;De Wit JB;Reynolds RH;Canavan PG;Kippax SC;Kidd MR, 2013, 'At the coalface and the cutting edge: General practitioners' accounts of the rewards of engaging with HIV medicine', BMC Family Practice, vol. 14, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2296-14-39
• Persson AS, 2013, 'Non/infectious corporealities: tensions in the biomedical era of 'HIV normalisation'', Sociology of Health and Illness, vol. 35, pp. 1065 - 1079, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-9566.12023
• Persson A;Newman C, 2012, 'When HIV-positive children grow up: A critical analysis of the transition literature in developed countries', Qualitative Health Research, vol. 22, pp. 656 - 667, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1049732311431445
• Persson AS, 2012, 'Notes on the concepts of serodiscordance and risk in couples with mixed HIV status', Global Public Health, vol. 8, pp. 209 - 220, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2012.729219
• Persson AS, 2012, 'The undoing and doing of sexual identity among HIV-positive heterosexual men in Australia', Men and Masculinities, vol. 15, pp. 311 - 328, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1097184X12450015
• Persson A;Ellard J;Newman C;Holt M;De Wit J, 2011, 'Human rights and universal access for men who have sex with men and people who inject drugs: A qualitative analysis of the 2010 UNGASS narrative country progress reports', Social Science and Medicine, vol. 73, pp. 467 - 474, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.05.047
• Persson AS, 2011, 'HIV-negativity in serodiscordant relationships: The absence, enactment, and liminality of serostatus identity', Medical Anthropology, vol. 30, pp. 569 - 590, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01459740.2011.561456
• Persson AS, 2010, 'Embodied worlds: A semiotic phenomenology of Satyananda Yoga', Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, vol. 16, pp. 797 - 815, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9655.2010.01654.x
• Persson AS, 2010, 'Reflections on the Swiss Consensus Statement in the context of qualitative interviews with heterosexuals living with HIV', AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio - Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV, vol. 22, pp. 1487 - 1492, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2010.482122
• Newman C;Persson A, 2009, 'Fear, complacency and the spectacle of risk: The making of HIV as a public concern in Australia', Health, vol. 13, pp. 7 - 23, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1363459308097358
• Persson A;Newman C, 2008, 'Making monsters: Heterosexuality, crime and race in recent Western media coverage of HIV', Sociology of Health and Illness, vol. 30, pp. 632 - 646, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9566.2008.01082.x
• Persson AS;Richards W, 2008, 'Vulnerability, gender and `proxy negativity`: Women in relationships with HIV-positive men in Australia', Social Science and Medicine, vol. 67, pp. 799 - 807, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.05.010
• Persson AS;Richards W, 2008, 'From closet to heterotopia: A conceptual exploration of disclosure and `passing` among heterosexuals living with HIV', Culture, Health and Sexuality, vol. 10, pp. 73 - 86, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13691050701669048
• Persson AS, 2008, 'Sero-silence and sero-sharing: Managing HIV in serodiscordant heterosexual relationships', AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio - Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV, vol. 20, pp. 503 - 506, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09540120701787487
• Persson AS, 2007, 'Communication, silence and serodiscordance', Talkabout, pp. 19 - 21
• Persson AS, 2007, 'Intimate immensity: Phenomenology of place and space in an Australian yoga community', American Ethnologist, vol. 34, pp. 44 - 56
• Persson AS;Barton D, 2007, 'Masculinity and sexuality in the context of heterosexual HIV', HIV Australia, vol. 5, pp. 20 - 21
• Persson AS;Baron D;Richards W, 2007, 'Get it straight: HIV and heterosexuality', HIV Australia, vol. 5, pp. 14 - 15
• Persson A;Newman C, 2006, 'Potency and vulnerability: Troubled 'selves' in the context of antiretroviral therapy', Social Science and Medicine, vol. 63, pp. 1586 - 1596, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2006.04.001
• Newman C;Persson A;Ellard J, 2006, ''We just don't know': Ambivalence about treatment strategies in the Australian community-based HIV media', Health, vol. 10, pp. 191 - 210, http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1363459306061788
• Persson AS, 2005, 'Northern Exposure: HIV and Body Shape Change in the Northern Rivers', Talkabout, vol. 1
• Persson AS, 2005, 'Facing HIV: Body shape change and the (in)visibility of illness', Medical Anthropology, vol. 24, pp. 237 - 264
• Persson AS;Ellard JM, 2004, 'An Unusual Intimacy: How Stories Become Research', The Art of Living: Proceedings of the 9th Biennial NAPWA Conference, Cairns (October), vol. 1
• Persson AS, 2004, 'Incorporating Pharmakon: HIV, medicine, and body shape change', Body and Society, vol. 10, pp. 45 - 67
• Persson AS, 2003, 'The Silence of Lipodystrophy', HIV Australia, vol. 3, pp. 15 - 16
• Persson AS, 2003, 'Shaping Lives: Psychosocial Effects of Lipodystrophy', HIV Australia, vol. 2, pp. 14 - 15
• Persson AS;Race KD;Wakeford E, 2003, 'HIV health in context: Negotiating medical technology and lived experience', Health: An Interdisciplinary Journal for the Study of Health Illness and Medicine, vol. 7, pp. 397 - 415

Conference Papers

• Newman C;Persson A;Miller A;Cama E, 2014, 'Navigating different (biomedical) worlds: Clinician perspectives on the challenges of transitioning young people with HIV into adult care.', in Navigating different (biomedical) worlds: Clinician perspectives on the challenges of transitioning young people with HIV into adult care., promises&limitations: the 13th Social Research Conference on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Related Diseases, UNSW, Sydney, presented at promises&limitations: the 13th Social Research Conference on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Related Diseases, UNSW, Sydney, 01 - 01 February 2014
• Persson AS, 2014, 'YouMe&HIV: CSRH Showcase—Emerging perspectives on HIV treatment as prevention in the ‘real world’', in YouMe&HIV: CSRH Showcase—Emerging perspectives on HIV treatment as prevention in the ‘real world’, promises&limitations: the 13th Social Research Conference on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Related Diseases, UNSW, Sydney, presented at promises&limitations: the 13th Social Research Conference on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Related Diseases, UNSW, Sydney, 01 - 01 February 2014
• Persson AS, 2014, 'TasP and perceptions of sexual safety in serodiscordant couples', in TasP and perceptions of sexual safety in serodiscordant couples, National Gay Men’s HIV Health Promotion Conference, Sydney, presented at National Gay Men’s HIV Health Promotion Conference, Sydney, 08 - 09 April 2014
• Dodds C;Bourne A;Dowsett G;Flowers P;Friedman S;Kippax S;et al ;Persson A;et al, 2013, 'ARVs for prevention: A research agenda for the social sciences (plenary).', in ARVs for prevention: A research agenda for the social sciences (plenary)., IAPAC conference, London, UK, presented at IAPAC conference, London, UK, 01 - 01 September 2013
• Dodds C;Persson A;Vernooij E, 2013, 'Professional ambivalence: The views of HIV service providers about ARVs for prevention in three settings (poster).', in Professional ambivalence: The views of HIV service providers about ARVs for prevention in three settings (poster)., IAPAC conference, London, UK, presented at IAPAC conference, London, UK, 01 - 01 September 2013
• Persson AS, 2013, 'Selling TasP to Serodiscordant Couples: The Perspectives of HIV Service Providers', in Selling TasP to Serodiscordant Couples: The Perspectives of HIV Service Providers, 2nd International HIV Social Science and Humanities Conference, Paris, Francer, presented at 2nd International HIV Social Science and Humanities Conference, Paris, Francer, 01 - 01 July 2013
• Dodds C;Bourne A;Dowsett G;Flowers P;Friedman S;Kippax S;Persson A;and many more, 2013, 'ARVs for prevention: A research agenda for the social sciences (plenary)', in ARVs for prevention: A research agenda for the social sciences (plenary), IAPAC conference, London, UK, presented at IAPAC conference, London, UK, 01 - 01 September 2013
• Newman C;Persson A;Miller A;Cama E, 2013, 'Bridging two worlds: Clinician perspectives on the challenges of transitioning young people with HIV into adult care', in Bridging two worlds: Clinician perspectives on the challenges of transitioning young people with HIV into adult care, 25th Australasian HIV Conference, Darwin, Australia, presented at 25th Australasian HIV Conference, Darwin, Australia, 01 - 01 October 2013

Reports

• Persson AS;Ellard J;Brown G;Newman C;Prestage G, 2016, YouMe&HIV: The Serodiscordant Couples Study, Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW, Sydney, https://csrh.arts.unsw.edu.au/media/CSRHFile/YouMeHIV__Final_Report.pdf
• Newman CE;Persson A;de Wit J;Holt M;Callander D;Schmidt HM;Gordon T;Manolas P;Rutherford A;Ooi C, 2016, BRISE StraightMSM Study: Understanding expert views on defining and reaching heterosexually-identified men who have sex with men for health promotion and care, Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Australia, Sydney, Australia, https://csrh.arts.unsw.edu.au/research/projects/straight-msm/
• Persson AS;Richards W;Barton D;Reakes K, 2009, Men and women living heterosexually with HIV: The Straightpoz study, Volume 2, National Centre in HIV Social Research, Sydney, Australia, Men and women living heterosexually with HIV: The Straightpoz study, Volume 2, http://nchsr.arts.unsw.edu.au/media/File/Straightpoz2.pdf
• Persson AS;Barton D;Katsaros E, 2007, Get it straight: Heterosexuality and HIV - a fact sheet for health workers, National Centre in HIV Social Research, Sydney, Get it straight: Heterosexuality and HIV - a fact sheet for health workers
• Persson AS;Barton D;Richards W, 2006, Men and women living heterosexually with HIV: The Straightpoz study, Volume 1, National Centre in HIV Social Research, Sydney, Men and women living heterosexually with HIV: The Straightpoz study,Volume 1
• Persson AS;Fogarty A;Rawstorne PR;Prestage G, 2005, Northern Exposure: HIV in the Northern Rivers Region - A Joint Report, National Centre in HIV Social Research, The University of New South Wales, The University of New South Wales, Northern Exposure: HIV in the Northern Rivers Region
• Persson AS;Triffitt K, 2004, Living and Dealing with Body Shape Change, People Living with HIV/AIDS, NSW, NSW, Living and Dealing with Body Shape Change

Other

• Newman C;Persson AS, 2015, Making families, eliding differences: Accounts of HIV serodiscordance and family life, Serodiscordant Studies Workshop, UNSW Australia
• Newman C;Persson AS, 2015, ‘If there's no trust, it's just not gonna work’: Understanding trust in partners, pills and providers among couples of mixed HIV status, Serodiscordant Studies Workshop, UNSW Australia
• Persson AS, 2015, PrEP and serodiscordant relationships, Serodiscordant Studies Workshop, UNSW Australia
• Persson AS, 2015, YouMe&HIV: Overview of participants and key findings, Serodiscordant Studies Workshop, UNSW Australia
• Persson AS, 2015, Pharmaceutical citizenship: Serodiscordance, stigma, sex and TasP, Serodiscordant Studies Workshop, UNSW Australia
• Persson AS;Ellard J;Newman C, 2015, Telling intimate tales: Stigma, stories and serodiscordant sexuality in the biomedical age, CSRH seminar series, UNSW
• Newman C;Persson AS;Miller A, 2015, HIV positive children transitioning to adolescence and adulthood, Gilead Best Practice Sharing Symposium: Improving patient care in HIV and chronic viral hepatitis, S
• Ellard J;Persson AS, 2015, YouMe&HIV overview and key findings on PrEP, In-service seminar, Sydney Sexual Health Centre, Sydney Hospital
• Newman C;Persson AS, 2015, PozKidz transition issues, Adolescents with HIV, Staff Forum, Albion Centre, Sydney
• Persson AS;Newman C, 2015, PozKidz overview, Adolescents with HIV, Staff Forum, Albion Centre, Sydney
• Newman C;de Wit J;Persson AS;Holt M;Mao L;Slavin S;Kidd M, 2015, Why might some people with HIV feel concerned about using treatment as prevention?, AFAO, https://www.afao.org.au/library/hiv-australia/volume-13/vol-13-number-2-horizons/how-some-people-with-hiv-feel-about-tasp#.Vq7aFNV96Uk
• Newman C;Persson AS;Brown G;Ellard J;Bavinton B, 2015, Understanding the promise of biomedical prevention for couples of mixed HIV status: Workshop report, AFAO, https://www.afao.org.au/library/hiv-australia/volume-13/vol-13-number-2-horizons/biomedical-prevention-for-couples-of-mixed-hiv-status#.Vq7YxNV96Uk

Conference Presentations

• Newman CE;Persson A;de Wit J;Holt M;Callander D;Schmidt HM A;Gordon T;Manolas P;Rutherford A;Ooi C, 2016, 'Ever at the margins? Expert views on the challenges of defining and reaching heterosexually-identified men who have sex with men for health promotion and care', presented at 14th Social Research Conference on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Related Diseases, Sydney, 31 March - 01 April 2016
• Newman CE;Persson A;Ellard J, 2016, '‘As a family… it is a big thing’: Managing HIV serodiscordance in family life', presented at 14th Social Research Conference on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Related Diseases, Sydney, 31 March - 01 April 2016
• Persson A;Newman CE;Ellard J, 2016, 'Breaking binaries? Serostatus borderlands among couples with mixed HIV status', presented at 14th Social Research Conference on HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Related Diseases, Sydney, 31 March - 01 April 2016
• Newman CE;Persson A;de Wit J;Holt M;Callander D;Schmidt HM A;Gordon T;Manolas P;Ooi C;Rutherford A, 2016, '‘The Secrecy is Immense’: Expert Views on Engaging Heterosexually-Identified Men Who Have Sex with Men With Sexual Health Promotion and Care', presented at 2017 Australasian HIV & AIDS Conference, Adelaide, 14 - 16 November 2016
• Persson A;Newman CE;Ellard J, 2016, 'Biomedicine and Serostatus Borderlands among Couples with Mixed HIV Status', presented at 2017 Australasian HIV & AIDS Conference, Adelaide, 14 - 16 November 2016
• Persson AS, 2015, 'Intimate citizenship: Stories of serodiscordance, stigma and science', presented at IASSCS X Conference: Literacies and Sexualities in Cultural, Fictional, Real, and Virtual Worlds, Dublin, 17 - 20 June 2015
• Newman C;Persson AS;Holt M;Mao L;de Wit J, 2015, '‘That’s not a good enough reason for me’: Appreciating consumer doubts about HIV medicine', presented at TASA Health Symposium: The Politics of Knowledge in Health Care: Science, Evidence and Experience, Newcastle, 26 - 26 June 2015
• Newman C;Persson AS;Ellard J, 2015, 'Making families, eliding differences: Accounts of HIV serodiscordance and family life', presented at TASA Families Symposium: The Changing Face of Families and Relationships, Melbourne, 30 - 31 October 2015
• Newman C;Persson AS;Miller A;Brown R, 2015, '‘Just take your medicine and everything will be fine’: The complexities of responsibilising young people who have grown up with HIV under neoliberalism', presented at TASA Conference 2015: Neoliberalism and Contemporary Challenges for the Asia-Pacific, Cairns, 23 - 26 November 2015
• Newman C;Mao L;Persson A;Holt M;de Wit J, 2013, '“Health seems to come second”: Views on treatment as prevention among people with HIV not currently taking treatment', presented at 25th Australasian HIV Conference, Darwin, Australia, 01 - 01 October 2013

Edited Books

• 2016, Cross-cultural perspectives on couples with mixed HIV status: Beyond positive/negative., Springer, Switzerland, http://www.springer.com/in/book/9783319427232

Areas of expertise for supervision

Asha welcomes supervision of postgraduate projects that focus on the intersections of HIV, gender, sexuality, embodiment, medicine, health and illness, and cultural practice, particularly projects situated in the fields of social and medical anthropology, ethnography, cultural phenomenology, and sociology of health and illness.

Selected grants

Kelly-Hanku, A., Persson, A. & Worth, H. Understanding global biomedical technologies in local realities: The case of couples with mixed HIV status in Papua New Guinea. ARC Discovery Project [DP 160103659]: $666,000.

Newman, Persson, valentine, Hamilton, Bryant, Wallace (2015) Critical perspectives on serodiscordance in family life: Understanding and strengthening family responses to blood borne infectious disease. ARC Discovery Project [DP160100134]: $307,550.

Newman, Persson, Manolas, de Wit, Holt, Callander, Ooi, Rutherford (2015-2016) StraightMSM Study: Heterosexually identified men who have sex with men. NSW Health BBV & STI Research, Intervention and Strategic Evaluation Program (BRISE): $74,412. UNSW Project ID: RG133987.

Newman, C., Persson, A., & de Wit, J. (2013) Sifting hope from hype: Media representations of the changing science of HIV prevention. FASS/NCHSR Research Promotion Grant: $3968

Persson, A., Newman, C., & Miller, A. (2013) HIV-positive children transitioning to adolescence and adulthood. Gilead Fellowship: $20,000

Persson, A., Newman, C., & Miller, A. (2012) HIV-positive children transitioning to adolescence and adulthood. FASS/NCHSR Research Promotion Grant: $3000

Persson, A., Ellard, J., Triffit, K., Prestage, G., Brown, G. & de Wit, J. (2012) Managing HIV, sex and risk in serodiscordant couples in a changing epidemic. NSW Ministry of Health (funding 2013-2015, $207,850)

Persson, A. (2006) The Straightpoz study: Men and women living heterosexually with HIV. NSW Ministry of Health (funding 2006–2010, $96,000)

Newman, C. & Persson, A. (2006) The making of HIV and heterosexuality in the mainstream Australian print media. UNSW Faculty Research Grant (Reference numbers: PS08868 and PS08752) $8557

 Persson, A. and Ellard, J. (2004) Treatment histories: Contextualising social and individual narratives of HIV therapy across time. UNSW Faculty Research Grant (Reference number: PS05195) $9950

 Persson, A. (2003) Locating lipodystrophy: a regional study of the cultural context of HIV and body shape change: The Northern Rivers study. UNSW Faculty Research Grant (Reference number: PS03498) $7986