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Humphries D, Marotta P, Hu Y, Wang V, Gross G, Rucker D, Jones J, Alam F, Brown T, Carter CR, Spiegelman D. St. Louis Enhancing Engagement and Retention in HIV/AIDS Care (STEER): a participatory intersectional needs assessment for intervention and implementation planning. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4225131. [PMID: 38746123 PMCID: PMC11092814 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4225131/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Background Missouri is one of seven priority states identified by the Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative, and St. Louis contains almost half of the people living with HIV (PLWH) in Missouri. As St. Louis has a marked history of structural racism and economic inequities, we utilized the Intersectionality Based Policy Analysis (IBPA) framework to guide a participatory needs assessment for planning and program development. Methods The planning team included researchers, the lead implementer from our community partner, and two community representatives, and had biweekly 60-90 minute meetings for 18 months. The planning team discussed and approved all research materials, reviewed and interpreted results, and made decisions about outreach, recruitment, conduct of the needs assessment and development of the planned intervention. The needs assessment integrated information from existing data, (1) interviews with (a) PLWH (n=12), (b) community leaders (n=5), (c) clinical leaders (n=4), and (d) community health workers (CHWs) (n=3) and (e) CHW supervisors (n=3) who participated in a Boston University-led demonstration project on CHWs in the context of HIV and (2) focus groups (2 FG, 12 participants) with front line health workers such as peer specialists, health coaches and outreach workers. A rapid qualitative analysis approach was used for all interviews and focus groups. Results The IBPA was used to guide team discussions of team values, definition and framing of the problem, questions and topics in the key informant interviews, and implementation strategies. Applying the IBPA framework contributed to a focus on intersectional drivers of inequities in HIV services. The effective management of HIV faces significant challenges from high provider turnover, insufficient integration of CHWs into care teams, and organizational limitations in tailoring treatment plans. Increasing use of CHWs for HIV treatment and prevention also faces challenges. People living with HIV (PLWH) encounter multiple barriers such as stigma, lack of social support, co-morbidities, medication side effects and difficulties in meeting basic needs. Conclusions Addressing intersectional drivers of health inequities may require multi-level, structural approaches. We see the IBPA as a valuable tool for participatory planning while integrating community engagement principles in program and implementation design for improving HIV outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Phillip Marotta
- Washington University In St Louis: Washington University in St Louis
| | | | | | - Greg Gross
- Washington University In St Louis: Washington University in St Louis
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Sharma A, Mwamba C, St Clair-Sullivan N, Chihota BV, Pry JM, Bolton-Moore C, Vinikoor MJ, Muula GK, Daultrey H, Gittelsohn J, Mulenga LB, Siyumbwa N, Wandeler G, Vera JH. The Social Construction of Aging Among a Clinic-Based Population and Their Healthcare Workers in Zambia. Int J Public Health 2024; 69:1606607. [PMID: 38711786 PMCID: PMC11070831 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2024.1606607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives We sought to understand the social construction of aging in a clinic-based population, with and without HIV, to address gaps in care for older individuals living with HIV in Zambia. Methods Our exploratory qualitative study included 36 in-depth interviews with clinic clients and four focus group discussions with 36 professional and lay healthcare workers providing services to the clients. We identified themes based on social construction theory. Results At the individual level, aging was multidimensional, perceived both as an achievement in the HIV era and as a period of cognitive, physical, and economic decline. In social interactions, older individuals were often stereotyped and treated as helpless, poor, and "witches." Those living with HIV faced the additional stigma of being labeled as promiscuous. Some of the participants living without HIV refused to take daily medication for non-communicable diseases to avoid being mistaken for taking antiretroviral therapy for HIV. Older individuals wanted quality healthcare and family support to address the intersectional stigma of aging, poverty, and chronic illness. Conclusion Multifaceted interventions are required to combat age-related prejudice, intersectional stigma, and discriminatory practices, particularly for people living with HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali Sharma
- Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Chanda Mwamba
- Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | | | - Belinda V. Chihota
- Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
- Department of Preclinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jake M. Pry
- Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
- School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Carolyn Bolton-Moore
- Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
- Department of Medicine, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Michael J. Vinikoor
- Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
- Department of Medicine, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Guy K. Muula
- Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
| | | | - Joel Gittelsohn
- Center for Human Nutrition, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | | | | | - Gilles Wandeler
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, United Kingdom
- Medical Faculty, Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jaime H. Vera
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, United Kingdom
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Lazarus JV, Janamnuaysook R, Caswell G. A people-centred health system must be the foundation for person-centred care in the HIV response. J Int AIDS Soc 2023; 26 Suppl 1:e26125. [PMID: 37408462 PMCID: PMC10323313 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey V. Lazarus
- CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH)New YorkNew YorkUSA
- Barcelona Institute of Global Health (ISGlobal)Hospital ClínicUniversity of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesUniversity of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Rena Janamnuaysook
- Institute of HIV Research and InnovationBangkokThailand
- Center of Excellence in Transgender HealthChulalongkorn UniversityBangkokThailand
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