Abstract

Stigma is widely recognized as a significant barrier to the prevention, management and treatment of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) in Canada. Despite major advances in STBBI prevention and treatment, and global efforts to reduce stigma, people living with or affected by STBBIs continue to experience stigma within health and social service settings in Canada. To describe the development, content and evaluation of knowledge translation resources and training workshops designed to equip health and social service professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to provide more respectful and inclusive sexual health, harm reduction and STBBI services. After conducting a literature review, environmental scan and key informant interviews, and developing a conceptual framework, the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) developed four knowledge translation resources and three training workshops in partnership with a number of community-based organizations and experts. The resources were drafted and reviewed by both service providers and individuals affected by STBBIs. The workshops were developed, piloted and then evaluated using post-workshop questionnaires. The four resources developed were a self-assessment tool related to STBBIs and stigma; a service provider discussion guide to facilitate respectful and inclusive discussions on issues related to sexuality, substance use and STBBIs; a toolkit focused on stigma reduction, privacy, confidentiality and the criminalization of HIV non-disclosure; and an organizational assessment tool related to STBBIs and stigma for health and social service settings. These knowledge translation resources were subsequently integrated into the content of three face-to-face trainings that were piloted and evaluated across the country. Post-workshop evaluation had an overall 85% response rate; 88% of participants noted increased awareness of various forms of stigma, 87% noted increased comfort discussing sexuality, substance use and harm reduction with their clients/patients, 90% reported increased awareness of organizational strategies to reduce stigma, and 93% reported being able to integrate workshop learnings into practice. In addition, there was strong support for professional development on issues related to STBBI stigma reduction. These knowledge translation resources and training workshops represent a comprehensive set of tools developed in Canada that service providers can use to help reduce stigma when caring for clients/patients with STBBIs and related conditions. Evaluation indicates there is a strong willingness among health and social service providers to engage in educational opportunities in this area and that participation in the training workshops led to increased awareness and a willingness to adopt best practices.

Highlights

  • Stigma, defined as a dynamic process of devaluation that significantly discredits an individual in the eyes of others, is widely recognized as a barrier to the prevention, management and treatment of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs), such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, human papillomavirus, genital herpes and syphilis [1]

  • These knowledge translation resources and training workshops represent a comprehensive set of tools developed in Canada that service providers can use to help reduce stigma when caring for clients/patients with STBBIs and related conditions

  • Evaluation indicates there is a strong willingness among health and social service providers to engage in educational opportunities in this area and that participation in the training workshops led to increased awareness and a willingness to adopt best practices

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Stigma, defined as a dynamic process of devaluation that significantly discredits an individual in the eyes of others, is widely recognized as a barrier to the prevention, management and treatment of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs), such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, human papillomavirus, genital herpes and syphilis [1]. Despite major advances in STBBI prevention and treatment, and global efforts to reduce stigma, numerous Canadian studies have identified health and social service settings as significant sources of stigma for CCDR February 1, 2018 Volume 44-2. A number of factors may contribute to stigma within service settings, all of which overlap to produce the complex and layered nature of STBBI stigma These include providers’ discomfort in discussing sexuality and/or substance use; social norms stipulating that individuals affected by STBBIs are to blame due to participation in activities deemed morally disreputable, such as sexual promiscuity or substance use; and organizational policies and procedures that inadvertently contribute to stigma. Despite major advances in STBBI prevention and treatment, and global efforts to reduce stigma, people living with or affected by STBBIs continue to experience stigma within health and social service settings in Canada

Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call