How can HIV/STI testing services be more accessible and acceptable for gender and sexually diverse young people? A brief report exploring young people's perspectives in Queensland

Abstract

Issue addressed Gender and sexually diverse young people (GSDYP) are an important target group for HIV/sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention and there is an immediate need to explore ways to make testing interventions accessible and appropriate for this group. Methods We used a modified World Café workshop with 14 GSDYP in Brisbane Australia, to inform the development of a pilot community‐based testing intervention. Results The workshop identified the key features of an ideal service, which would include multiple, accessible sites that offer holistic, affordable services and confidential care by respectful and knowledgeable providers. The service would allow young people to engage in decision‐making processes, have a culturally inclusive, comfortable and friendly atmosphere, and provide free sexual and reproductive health technologies. Conclusion When designing HIV/STI testing interventions for key groups, health promotion practitioners need to be cognisant of localised and nuanced expectations and ensure that services are tailored to the needs and experiences of the local population. So what? This study provides insights into the needs and expectations of HIV/STI testing interventions for GSDYP in Australia, a key at‐risk group whose perspectives are not adequately voiced in sexual health research and intervention design. Summary This study explores facilitators and current barriers to HIV/STI testing with a group of gender and sexually diverse young people in Brisbane, Australia. Outcomes provide insights into the needs and expectations of HIV/STI testing services for this group.

A critical look to community wisdom: Applying the World Café method to health promotion and prevention

“…Finally, only 28% of the studies reported the organisation of one or more World Cafés, as the only method used (Table 2). As regards the macro‐area covered by the studies, about half of the studies were centred on health promotion (12 studies) 15,18–22,25,27,28,32,34,35 and the other half on disease prevention (11 studies) 7–9,16,17,23,24,26,29,30,33 . Only two studies addressed health promotion and prevention issues together 14,31 .…”

“…In two other studies, issues related to sexual and reproductive health were addressed to promote health by identifying the good practices in the field of sexual and reproductive health (SRH), with particular attention to migrants, and ascertaining relevant indicators for observing SRH in Portugal 34 and to prevent HIV/STI by informing about the development of a community‐based HIV/STI pilot testing intervention in Australia 8 . Candeias et al 34 .…”

“…In addition, the table host's observations may affect the discussion or the recorded evidence in ways that are difficult to control 33 . Finally, the lack of privacy—also due to the necessity of audio‐recording—may hinder participants to share truthful opinions 8,32 . At the same time, the possible opportunity to avoid audio recording would generate limits on the deepness and richness of the data collected 14 …”

“…First, this method offers the possibility to discover new and not predetermined outcomes and insights that are important for participants, 14,16 and this often guarantees that those outcomes are effective and significant for the community 32 . Therefore, themes expressed at a local level 8,21,22,32 could be made consistent with the main principles and objectives of global action plans 25,27 . Moreover, the World Café enables the capacity to establish what is crucial and what the related priorities are, also enabling international consensus on acknowledged values and quality standards 7,32 .…”

“…Furthermore, participatory methods involving patients and health care providers to evaluate and improve health care offer essential insights into care processes. These represent suitable tools for the quality improvement of healthcare services and research in different contexts 7–9 …”