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This introduction to the special issue aims to conceptualize the structural and super-structural relations between global capitalism and health, incorporating both historical and contemporary capitalism. Capitalism is an all-encompassing global phenomenon that interacts with health at multiple scales and via a range of 'vectors' that analysts must engage, examine and understand. We highlight some of the key structural and institutional conditions that shape global health outcomes. Deep and underlying structural effects of capitalism on health are evident at multiple scales and underpin new health challenges of the twenty-first century. At present, macro political economy – neoliberalism and market fundamentalism – profoundly shape governance of global health through regimes and institutions in areas such as trade and investment policy, austerity programs, pharmaceutical and food governance, and the rules that support globalized production and consumption. We develop an account of capitalism in which this overarching global system generates health outcomes like no other system, viewing it as structurally pathogenic with negative impacts on human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the willingness to use and pay for HIV Self-testing (HIVST) among Australian gay and bisexual men (GBM). Bivariate and univariate multinominal logistic regression of data from an online survey was performed. Thirty-one (13%) had never HIV tested and 41.9% (88) were testing sub-optimally by Australian guidelines. Half (58.4%, 136) had never heard of HIVST, however, 56.2% (131) reported willingness to use HIVST, with sub-optimal (OR=2.13; p < 0.01) and never-testers (OR=2.01; p < 0.10) significantly more likely to do so than optimal-testers. Most were confident (51.7%, 119) or somewhat confident (29.1%, 67) accessing support following a reactive result, however, never-testers were significantly less confident compared to previous testers (OR=3.47; p< 0.05). Less than a quarter (23.6%, 57) were willing to pay for a kit with AUD$15 (R2 = 0.9882) the estimated preferred price. This research confirms that HIVST is an important and accepted adjunct to established HIV testing modalities, particularly among sub-optimal and never-testers and that online (61.6%, 143) or clinic-based (61.6%, 143) dissemination are preferred. Research examining how best to disseminate HIVST in a range of safe and effective models needs to continue to ensure HIVST is part of a comprehensive strategy that facilitates usage and linkages to care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]