The perspectives of asylum seekers when accessing sexual health services in Cork and Kerry

Abstract Background The World Health Organisation (WHO) states that; “Sexual health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality. It requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence.” Asylum seekers are among many vulnerable groups that may face inequalities in terms of sexual health and how sexual health services are accessed. The aim of the present study is to gain an understanding of the experiences of asylum seekers when accessing sexual health services in Cork and Kerry, including the perceived barriers to and factors that facilitate access. Methods This is a qualitative study in which data was collected from 14 semi-structured interviews conducted with asylum seekers between May and June 2019. Participants were over the age of 18 and living in direct provision in Cork or Kerry. The present study uses a content analysis to explore the perspectives of asylum seekers when accessing sexual health services in Cork and Kerry. Results Participants demonstrated varying levels of understanding around the topic of sexual health and sexual health services. Several barriers and facilitators were identified which can be grouped into socioeconomic, political/legal, systemic, and social/cultural/religious barriers and facilitators. Conclusions The findings from this study highlighted several areas for improvement in the provision of information and services in relation to sexual health for asylum seekers living in direct provision and revealed the importance of addressing these issues in order to fulfil the purpose of public health by promoting health, preventing disease and prolonging life for all aspects of society. Key messages This study has identified the barriers and facilitators to accessing sexual health services in the context of the direct provision system in the Republic of Ireland. The results of the study reveal the varying ideas and understanding of the topic of sexual health and how this can influence help-seeking behaviour.

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Sexual health and COVID-19: protocol for a scoping review

Systematic Reviews ◽

10.1186/s13643-021-01591-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Navin Kumar ◽

Kamila Janmohamed ◽

Kate Nyhan ◽

Laura Forastiere ◽

Wei-Hong Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Clinical Trials ◽

Sexual Health ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Well Being ◽

World Health ◽

Original Research ◽

Scoping Reviews

Abstract Background Global responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have exposed and exacerbated existing socioeconomic and health inequities that disproportionately affect the sexual health and well-being of many populations, including people of color, ethnic minority groups, women, and sexual and gender minority populations. Although there have been several reviews published on COVID-19 and health disparities across various populations, none has focused on sexual health. We plan to conduct a scoping review that seeks to fill several of the gaps in the current knowledge of sexual health in the COVID-19 era. Methods A scoping review focusing on sexual health and COVID-19 will be conducted. We will search (from January 2020 onwards) CINAHL, Africa-Wide Information, Web of Science Core Collection, Embase, Gender Studies Database, Gender Watch, Global Health, WHO Global Literature on Coronavirus Disease Database, WHO Global Index Medicus, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and Sociological Abstracts. Grey literature will be identified using Disaster Lit, Google Scholar, governmental websites, and clinical trials registries (e.g., ClinicalTrial.gov, World Health Organization, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number Registry). Study selection will conform to the Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers’ Manual 2015 Methodology for JBI Scoping Reviews. Only English language, original studies will be considered for inclusion. Two reviewers will independently screen all citations, full-text articles, and abstract data. A narrative summary of findings will be conducted. Data analysis will involve quantitative (e.g., frequencies) and qualitative (e.g., content and thematic analysis) methods. Discussion Original research is urgently needed to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 on sexual health. The planned scoping review will help to address this gap. Systematic review registrations Systematic Review Registration: Open Science Framework osf/io/PRX8E

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MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES DURING THE PANDEMIC: THE EXPERIENCES OF LITHUANIAN PSYCHOLOGISTS

SOCIETY INTEGRATION EDUCATION Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference ◽

10.17770/sie2021vol7.6333 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 217-229

Author(s):

Rita Vaičekauskaitė ◽

Jurgita Babarskienė ◽

Jūratė Grubliauskienė

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Health Services ◽

Health Services ◽

Computer Literacy ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

Self Care ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Mental Health Crisis ◽

Health Crisis

With the COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions, many countries face an unprecedented mental health crisis, which is being addressed in various ways, including the use of remote mental health services. Lithuania faced two quarantines: in March-June of 2020 and starting November 2020 up to Spring of 2021. The aim of this study is to explore the experiences of Lithuanian psychologists providing mental health services during the pandemic. Using the qualitative content analysis method, the following categories were made: from shock to discovery of new opportunities (differences in two lockdowns, better accessibility of services, help-seeking during the pandemic, and the importance of self-care) and contextual challenges (confidentiality, computer literacy, and blurred home/work boundaries). Implications for addressing psychological service issues are discussed, with an emphasis on self-care, setting boundaries, and finding new ways to enhance mental health via mediated communication as well as to reach out to vulnerable groups.

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Coronavirus Pandemic: Coping with the Psychological Outcomes, Mental Changes, and the “New Normal” During and After COVID-19

10.36811/ojda.2020.110005 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 07-19

Author(s):

Hiba Takieddine ◽

Samaa AL Tabbah

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Providers ◽

Well Being ◽

World Health ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Public Health Response ◽

New Normal ◽

The World ◽

Health Organization ◽

The Impact

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly infectious disease that has rapidly swept across the world, inducing a considerable degree of fear, worry and concern in the population at large and among certain groups in particular, such as older adults, healthcare providers and people with underlying health conditions. Authorities around the world tried to prevent the virus spread by imposing social distancing measures, quarantining citizens and isolating infected persons. Apart from its physical impact, COVID-19 pandemic has brought numerous changes to people’s lives. It changed daily routines, caused worldwide economic crisis, increased unemployment, and placed people under emotional and financial pressures. It affected people psychologically and mentally especially in terms of emotions and cognition. During the acute crisis, everyone to varying degrees experienced fear of infection, somatic concerns, worries about the pandemic’s consequences, loneliness, depression, stress, as well as increased alcohol and drug use. As part of its public health response, the World Health Organization (WHO) has worked with partners to develop a set of new guidelines and messages that can be used to prevent, manage, and support mental and psychological well-being in different vulnerable target groups during the outbreak. Whether people like it or not, the psychological sequela of this pandemic will emerge and persist for months and years to come leading to long-term consequences. New lifestyles and “New Normals” will surely emerge. The main purpose of this review is to summarize the impact of coronavirus pandemic on the psychological and mental health of people around the world especially vulnerable groups. It also presents the relevant intervention actions and recommendations to cope efficiently and effectively with the psychological short-term and long-term outcomes, mental changes, and the “New Normal” during and after COVID-19. Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus, Psychological; Mental; New Normal

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‘It’s a real fine balancing act’: directly employed care workers’ experiences of engaging with health services

International Journal of Care and Caring ◽

10.1332/239788221x16099486601224 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jane Wilcock ◽

Jill Manthorpe ◽

Jo Moriarty ◽

Steve Iliffe

Keyword(s):

Health Services ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Well Being ◽

Care Work ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Care Workers ◽

The Impact ◽

Health And Well Being

Little is known of the experiences of directly employed care workers communicating with healthcare providers about the situations of their employers. We report findings from 30 in-depth semi-structured interviews with directly employed care workers in England undertaken in 2018–19. Findings relate to role content, communication with healthcare professionals and their own well-being. Directly employed care workers need to be flexible about the tasks they perform and the changing needs of those whom they support. Having to take on health liaison roles can be problematic, and the impact of care work on directly employed workers’ own health and well-being needs further investigation.

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Living a good life from the perspectives of the Chinese migrants in Scotland

BORDER CROSSING ◽

10.33182/bc.v8i1.572 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 1-11

Author(s):

Caroline Cheng

Keyword(s):

Asylum Seekers ◽

Minority Group ◽

Well Being ◽

Social Capital Theory ◽

Reference Points ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Capital Theory ◽

Chinese Migrants ◽

The Social ◽

The Uk

The 2011 Census shows 34,000 Chinese people living in Scotland, making Chinese the second largest minority group residing in Scotland. Among them, the asylum and refugee population continue to be largely invisible in the service delivery in Glasgow, which has been the only dispersal area in Scotland since 1999. Remarkably little research has been carried out on the UK Chinese migrant community in the literature, and this study proposed to fill the gap of finding out the wellbeing of this population. The researcher investigated the factors contributing to the wellbeing of twenty-five Chinese migrants, who are either asylum seekers or refugees in Glasgow as the first stage of a wellbeing study, adopting the concepts from the Wellbeing in Developing Countries framework (White, 2008). The Indicators of Integration (Strang & Ager 2008) and the Social Capital Theory (Putnam 1995) were used as reference points to explore the understanding of well-being and social connections. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to find out the core constructs of wellbeing from the Chinese peoples perspectives and thematic analysis was used in data analysis. The top five themes that emerged were childrens education, employment and financial independence, health care, freedom of speech and association, and support from own ethnic group.

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COVID-19 Pandemic: The Lived Experiences of Older Adults in Aged Care Homes

Millennial Asia ◽

10.1177/0976399620958326 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 299-317

Author(s):

Shi Yin Chee

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Lived Experiences ◽

Well Being ◽

Aged Care ◽

Care Homes ◽

World Health ◽

Phenomenological Method ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

The World ◽

Health Organization

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused untold fear and suffering for older adults across the world. According to the World Health Organization, older adults in aged care homes are at a higher risk of the infection living in an enclosed environment with others. This article adopts a qualitative approach using Colaizzi’s phenomenological method to explore the lived experiences of older adults during COVID-19. Between December 2019 and June 2020, 10 in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants aged 60 years and above in two aged care homes. The lived tension that has penetrated all participants’ stories in five themes of the meanings described as ‘disconnected in a shrinking world’ filled with uncertainties. COVID-19 has brought unprecedented challenges and disproportionate threat onto older adults’ lives, relationships and well-being. The overarching message was that older adults believe that ‘this too shall pass’ and regain their freedom that was lost during the pandemic.

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When health services are powerless to prevent suicide: results from a linkage study of suicide among men with no service contact in the year prior to death

Primary Health Care Research & Development ◽

10.1017/s1463423619000057 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sharon Mallon ◽

Karen Galway ◽

Janeet Rondon-Sulbaran ◽

Lynette Hughes ◽

Gerry Leavey

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Health Services ◽

Life Events ◽

Suicide Prevention ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Service Use ◽

Linkage Study ◽

High Rate ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Health Campaigns

AbstractAimsTo investigate cases of suicide in which there was no healthcare contact, by looking at history of help-seeking and evidence of previous mental health vulnerability. To identify any life events associated with suicide for which individuals did not seek help.BackgroundPrevious research has suggested that non-consultation is the main barrier to suicide prevention among men. Estimates suggest approximately 22% of men who die by suicide have not consulted their GP in the year before their death. Little is known about the lifetime pattern of engagement with services among these individuals and whether or not this may influence their help-seeking behaviour before death.MethodsCoroner records of suicide deaths in Northern Ireland over 2 years were linked to general practice (GP) records. This identified 63 individuals who had not attended health services in the 12 months before death. Coroner’s data were used to categorise life events associated with the male deaths. Lifetime mental health help-seeking at the GP was assessed.FindingsThe vast majority of individuals who did not seek help were males (n=60, 15% of all suicide deaths). Lack of consultation in the year before suicide was consistent with behaviour over the lifespan; over two-thirds had no previous consultations for mental health. In Coroner’s records, suicides with no prior consultation were primarily linked to relationship breakdown and job loss. These findings highlight the limitations of primary care in suicide prevention as most had never attended GP for mental health issues and there was a high rate of supported consultation among those who had previously sought help. Public health campaigns that promote service use among vulnerable groups at times of crisis might usefully be targeted at those likely to be experiencing financial and relationship issues.

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Sexual health services in community pharmacy for women on opioid substitution treatment: a qualitative study

European Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1093/eurpub/ckaa073 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 733-738

Author(s):

Laura Medina-Perucha ◽

Jenny Scott ◽

Sarah Chapman ◽

Julie Barnett ◽

Charlotte Dack ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Services ◽

Sexual Health ◽

Structural Changes ◽

Sexual Transmission ◽

Community Pharmacies ◽

Substitution Treatment ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Framework Analysis ◽

Opioid Substitution Treatment ◽

Opioid Substitution

Abstract Background Women on opioid substitution treatment (WOST) are at heightened risk for the sexual transmission of sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses. This study aimed to explore the opportunities to promote their sexual health in community pharmacies in UK. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 WOST and 14 community pharmacists (CPs). A focus group was run with three CPs. Participants were recruited in drug services and a service for sex workers (WOST), and in CP. Data collection took place between October 2016 and September 2017. Data were analyzed using Framework Analysis and directed Content Analysis. Results CPs could play a role in promoting sexual health among WOST. Sexual health screening, treatment and condom supply were suggested as potential ways of delivering pharmacy-based sexual health services. These services should be actively offered to WOST, delivered in a private space and free of cost. We identified several challenges to overcome in order to design and implement sexual health services for WOST in community pharmacies. Conclusions This study highlights the potentially key role CPs can have promoting sexual health and addressing health inequities among WOST. Improvements in pharmacists’ training are required in order to address stigma towards WOST, and promote trust and positive rapport. Structural changes are also needed to broaden the services available for this group of women and improve their access to healthcare.

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How to Relate Two Specific Concepts: Sexual Health and Sexual Minority?

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2016.01.1796 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 33 (S1) ◽

pp. S489-S489

Author(s):

F. Jurysta

Keyword(s):

Sexual Health ◽

Sexual Minority ◽

Well Being ◽

Hormone Treatment ◽

Sexual Relationships ◽

Integrative Model ◽

Integrative Approach ◽

Health Concept ◽

Opposite Sex ◽

Competing Interest

IntroductionWHO defines Sexual Health as “a state of physical, emotional, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality… and requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence”.OCD-10 defines Transsexualism as “the desire to live and be accepted as a member of the opposite sex, usually accompanied by the wish to make his or her body as congruent as possible with the preferred sex through surgery and hormone treatment. The transsexual identity has been present persistently for at least two years. The disorder is not a symptom of another mental disorder or a chromosomal abnormality”.ObjectiveWe developed an integrative model in 4 axes to approach Sexual Health concept and Transsexualism.AimsHolistic and integrative model of transsexualism gives a better understanding of this disorder and ameliorates global treatment. Moreover, this model should be applied to each sexual minority.Results1. Etiology integrates psychological, biological and neuro-developmental aspects. 2. Clinical features for treatment imply large and multidisciplinary approach. 3. Scientific literature includes more than thousand papers on Transsexualism and numerous expertises as endocrinology, psychiatry, cardiology, sleep… 4. Social networks are developed in hospitals, associations… as well as between patients themselves.ConclusionsHolistic and integrative approach of Sexual Minority as Transsexualism could reach Sexual Health concept defined by WHO.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

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Sexual health and COVID-19: Protocol for a scoping review

10.21203/rs.3.rs-59514/v3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Navin Kumar ◽

Kamila Janmohamed ◽

Kate Nyhan ◽

Laura Forastiere ◽

Wei-Hong Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Sexual Health ◽

Scoping Review ◽

English Language ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Grey Literature ◽

Well Being ◽

World Health ◽

Original Research ◽

Scoping Reviews

Abstract Background: Global responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have exposed and exacerbated existing socioeconomic and health inequities that disproportionately affect the sexual health and well-being of many populations, including people of color, ethnic minority groups, women, and sexual and gender minority populations. Although there have been several reviews published on COVID-19 and health disparities across various populations, none have focused on sexual health. We plan to conduct a scoping review that seeks to fill several of the gaps in the current knowledge of sexual health in the COVID-19 era.Methods: A scoping review focusing on sexual health and COVID-19 will be conducted. We will search (from January 2020 onwards) CINAHL, Africa-Wide Information, Web of Science Core Collection, Embase, Gender Studies Database, Gender Watch, Global Health, WHO Global Literature on Coronavirus Disease Database, WHO Global Index Medicus, PsycINFO, MEDLINE and Sociological Abstracts. Grey literature will be identified using Disaster Lit, Google Scholar, governmental websites and clinical trials registries (e.g. ClinicalTrial.gov, World Health Organization, International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and International Standard Randomized Con-trolled Trial Number registry). Study selection will conform to Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewers’ Manual 2015 Methodology for JBI Scoping Reviews. Only English language, original studies will be considered for inclusion. Two reviewers will independently screen all citations, full-text articles, and abstract data. A narrative summary of findings will be conducted. Data analysis will involve quantitative (e.g. frequencies) and qualitative (e.g. content and thematic analysis) methods.Discussion: Original research is urgently needed to mitigate the risks ofCOVID-19 on sexual health. The planned scoping review will help to address this gap.

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