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Optimising community health services in Australia for populations affected by stigmatised infections: What do service users want?
- Source :
- Health & Social Care in the Community; Nov2022, Vol. 30 Issue 6, pe3686-e3695, 10p
- Publication Year :
- 2022
-
Abstract
- Stigma in health services undermines diagnosis, treatment and successful health outcomes for all communities, but especially for those affected by blood‐borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study sought to examine experiences in accessing and receiving health services, including what characteristics promoted better health, safety and well‐being for people with blood‐borne viruses or STIss. It conducted 46 in‐depth interviews with people who inject drugs, gay men and other men who have sex with men, sex workers, people in custodial settings, culturally and linguistically diverse people, Indigenous Australians and young people in one Australian urban community setting. Findings reveal that stigma persists in the provision of healthcare services, and that previous experiences of discrimination or fear of mistreatment may result in a reluctance to continue to access services. On‐going staff training and education are important to ensure healthcare environments are welcoming and inclusive. Specialised services and services that employed peers were seen as favourable. Attending different services for different health needs created particular access challenges and undermined participant ability to engage in more holistic healthcare. The fragmented structure of health services was thus seen as a barrier to accessing health services, and stronger collaboration between health services is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- HOSPITALS
HEALTH services accessibility
TORRES Strait Islanders
PRISONERS
SOCIAL stigma
INTERVIEWING
SEX work
SEXUALLY transmitted diseases
PATIENTS' attitudes
RESEARCH funding
STATISTICAL sampling
THEMATIC analysis
DATA analysis software
MEN who have sex with men
ABORIGINAL Australians
BLOODBORNE infections
GAY men
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09660410
- Volume :
- 30
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Health & Social Care in the Community
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 160812977
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.14037