Reducing stigma in health care to improve health outcomes for people affected by bloodborne viruses
The problem
Stigma in health care can negatively impact people affected by bloodborne viruses ( BBV ), including their quality of life , relationships and willingness to access treatment .
While the national strategies for BBV state the need to eliminate the negative affect of stigma and discrimination on people ’ s health , little progress has been made in reducing stigma . Between 37-96 % of populations affected by BBVs report stigma experiences in the last 12 months .
Our solution
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Tackling the multiple and intersecting forms of stigma is integral to improving quality of health care for people affected by BBV , says Scientia Professor Carla Treloar , a world-leading social researcher of hepatitis C , injecting drug use and health policy . People with lived experience must be centrally involved in this research .
Carla Treloar collaborates with Associate Professor Loren Brener and Dr Timothy Broady , social researchers focused on public health , infectious diseases and health equity , at the UNSW Centre for Social Research in Health ( CSRH ). They have been working with communities affected by BBV for more than two decades .
Carla Treloar is leading the team on Trial of a universal precautions approach to stigma reduction in the BBV field , a project funded by the federal government . In partnership with community and health agencies , the project will develop , trial and evaluate a stigma reduction program for health services that will help shape the global approach to stigma reduction .
It builds on their Stigma Indicators Monitoring Project , monitoring stigma among populations at risk of or living with HIV , viral hepatitis and STIs , funded by the federal government . Its extensive surveys focus on priority populations as well as healthcare workers and the general public .
Our collaboration Carla Treloar is partnering on the project with :
> Hepatitis Australia > National Association of People Living with HIV Australia
( NAPWHA ) > Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations ( AFAO ) > Australasian Society for HIV Medicine ( ASHM ) > Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users ’ League ( AIVL ) > Scarlet Alliance > Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service > Burnet Institute > Kirby Institute > And Australian Research Centre in Sex , Health and
Society ( ARCSHS )
38 .