Experiences and resultant care gaps among women with HIV in Canada: concept mapping the Canadian HIV Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study (CHIWOS) findings

OBJECTIVES

The community-based, longitudinal, Canadian HIV Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study (CHIWOS) explored the experiences of women with HIV in Canada over the past decade. CHIWOS' high-impact publications document significant gaps in the provision of healthcare to women with HIV. We used concept mapping to analyse and present a summary of CHIWOS findings on women's experiences navigating these gaps.

DESIGN

Concept mapping procedures were performed in two steps between June 2019 and March 2021. First, two reviewers (AY and PM) independently reviewed CHIWOS manuscripts and conference abstracts written before 1 August 2019 to identify main themes and generate individual concept maps. Next, the preliminary results were presented to national experts, including women with HIV, to consolidate findings into visuals summarising the experiences and care gaps of women with HIV in CHIWOS.

SETTING

British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, Canada.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 18 individual CHIWOS team members participated in this study including six lead investigators of CHIWOS and 12 community researchers.

RESULTS

Overall, a total of 60 peer-reviewed manuscripts and conference abstracts met the inclusion criteria. Using concept mapping, themes were generated and structured through online meetings. In total, six composite concept maps were co-developed: quality of life, HIV care, psychosocial and mental health, sexual health, reproductive health, and trans women's health. Two summary diagrams were created encompassing the concept map themes, one for all women and one specific to trans women with HIV. Through our analysis, resilience, social support, positive healthy actions and women-centred HIV care were highlighted as strengths leading to well-being for women with HIV.

CONCLUSIONS

Concept mapping resulted in a composite summary of 60 peer-reviewed CHIWOS publications. This activity allows for priority setting to optimise care and well-being for women with HIV.

Dissemination of the Women-Centred HIV Care Model: A Multimodal Process and Evaluation

BACKGROUND

Using data from a national cohort study and focus groups, the Women-Centred HIV Care (WCHC) Model was developed to inform care delivery for women living with HIV.

METHODS

Through an evidence-based, integrated knowledge translation approach, we developed 2 toolkits based on the WCHC Model for service providers and women living with HIV in English and French (Canada's national languages). To disseminate, we distributed printed advertising materials, hosted 3 national webinars and conducted 2 virtual capacity-building training series.

RESULTS

A total of 315 individuals attended the webinars, and the average WCHC knowledge increased by 29% (SD 4.3%). In total, 131 service providers engaged in 22 virtual capacity-building training sessions with 21 clinical cases discussed. Learners self-reported increased confidence in 15/15 abilities, including the ability to provide WCHC. As of December 2023, the toolkits were downloaded 7766 times.

CONCLUSIONS

We successfully developed WCHC toolkits and shared them with diverse clinical and community audiences through various dissemination methods.

Pathways From HIV-Related Stigma, Racial Discrimination, and Gender Discrimination to HIV Treatment Outcomes Among Women Living With HIV in Canada: Longitudinal Cohort Findings

BACKGROUND

HIV-related stigma, gender discrimination, and racial discrimination harm mental health and hamper HIV treatment access for women living with HIV. Maladaptive coping strategies, such as substance use, can further worsen HIV treatment outcomes, whereas resilience can improve HIV outcomes. We examined resilience and depression as mediators of the relationship between multiple stigmas and HIV treatment outcomes among women living with HIV.

SETTING

Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec, Canada.

METHODS

We conducted a longitudinal study with 3 waves at 18-month intervals. We used structural equation modeling to test the associations of multiple stigmas (HIV-related stigma, racial discrimination, and gender discrimination) or an intersectional construct of all 3 stigmas at wave 1 on self-reported HIV treatment cascade outcomes (≥95% antiretroviral treatment [ART] adherence, undetectable viral load) at wave 3. We tested depression and resilience at wave 2 as potential mediators and adjusted for sociodemographic factors.

RESULTS

There were 1422 participants at wave 1, half of whom were Black (29%) or Indigenous (20%). Most participants reported high ART adherence (74%) and viral suppression (93%). Racial discrimination was directly associated with having a detectable viral load, while intersectional stigma was directly associated with lower ART adherence. Resilience mediated associations between individual and intersectional stigmas and HIV treatment cascade outcomes, but depression did not. Racial discrimination was associated with increased resilience, while intersectional and other individual stigmas were associated with reduced resilience.

CONCLUSION

Race, gender and HIV-related stigma reduction interventions are required to address intersectional stigma among women living with HIV. Including resilience-building activities in these interventions may improve HIV treatment outcomes.

Key recommendations for developing a national action plan to advance the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women living with HIV in Canada

Action on the World Health Organization Consolidated guideline on sexual and reproductive health and rights of women living with HIV requires evidence-based, equity-oriented, and regionally specific strategies centred on priorities of women living with HIV. Through community–academic partnership, we identified recommendations for developing a national action plan focused on enabling environments that shape sexual and reproductive health and rights by, with, and for women living with HIV in Canada. Between 2017 and 2019, leading Canadian women’s HIV community, research, and clinical organizations partnered with the World Health Organization to convene a webinar series to describe the World Health Organization Consolidated guideline, define sexual and reproductive health and rights priorities in Canada, disseminate Canadian research and best practices in sexual and reproductive health and rights, and demonstrate the importance of community–academic partnerships and meaningful engagement of women living with HIV. Four webinar topics were pursued: (1) Trauma and Violence-Aware Care/Practice; (2) Supporting Safer HIV Disclosure; (3) Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice; and (4) Resilience, Self-efficacy, and Peer Support. Subsequent in-person (2018) and online (2018–2021) consultation with > 130 key stakeholders further clarified priorities. Consultations yielded five cross-cutting key recommendations:

1. Meaningfully engage women living with HIV across research, policy, and practice aimed at advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights by, with, and for all women.

2. Centre Indigenous women’s priorities, voices, and perspectives.

3. Use language that is actively de-stigmatizing, inclusive, and reflective of women’s strengths and experiences.

4. Strengthen Knowledge Translation efforts to support access to and uptake of contemporary sexual and reproductive health and rights information for all stakeholders.

5. Catalyse reciprocal relationships between evidence and action such that action is guided by research evidence, and research is guided by what is needed for effective action.

Topic-specific sexual and reproductive health and rights recommendations were also identified. Guided by community engagement, recommendations for a national action plan on sexual and reproductive health and rights encourage Canada to enact global leadership by creating enabling environments for the health and healthcare of women living with HIV. Implementation is being pursued through consultations with provincial and national government representatives and policy-makers.

Substance use patterns among women living with HIV compared with the general female population of Canada

BACKGROUND

HIV infection and substance use synergistically impact health outcomes of people with HIV. In this study, we assessed the prevalence of substance use among women living with HIV (WLWH) and compared them with expected values from general data.

METHODS

Cigarette smoking, frequency of alcohol consumption, last-month non-prescribed cannabis use (vs. last-year use), and last 3 months regular (≥once/week) and occasional (<once/week) use of crack/cocaine, speed (amphetamine), and heroin (vs. last-year use) were examined in WLWH from the 2013-2015 Canadian HIV Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study (CHIWOS; N = 1422) and compared with general population women from the 2013-2014 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS; N = 46,831). Age/ethnoracial-standardized prevalence differences (SPD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported.

RESULTS

Compared to expected estimates from general population women, a higher proportion of WLWH reported daily cigarette smoking (SPD: 26.8% [95% CI: 23.9, 29.7]), smoking ≥20 cigarettes/day (SPD: 11.6% [9.8, 13.6]), regular non-prescribed cannabis use (SPD: 8.0% [4.1, 8.6]), regular crack/cocaine use (SPD: 16.7% [13.1, 20.9]), regular/occasional speed use (SPD: 2.4% [1.2, 4.7]), and heroin use (SPD: 11.2% [8.3, 15.0]). However, WLWH reported lower frequencies of alcohol consumption and binge drinking than their counterparts in the general population.

CONCLUSIONS

Cigarette smoking and illicit drug use, but not alcohol use or binge drinking, were more prevalent in WLWH than would be expected for Canadian women with a similar age and ethnoracial group profile. These findings may indicate the need for women-centered harm reduction programs to improve health outcomes of WLWH in Canada.