Women who received a diagnosis of HIV in midlife in Sussex
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Health Services: The views of people who identify as women, non-binary, and trans-masculine, who were diagnosed with HIV in midlife in Sussex
IRAS ID
355003
Contact name
Kiersten Simmons
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Clinical Research Facility, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trus
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Rates of HIV and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are increasing among people who identify as women, non-binary, and trans-masculine, and who are aged 40-65 years. Health services, including sexual health and wellbeing services, largely aimed at young people and men who have sex with men, have not evolved to meet the needs of the changing sociocultural norms of women and people who identify as non-binary and trans masculine, who are aged 40-65 years. The aim of this study is to explore from the perspectives of people who identify as women, non-binary, and trans-masculine, who were diagnosed with HIV when aged 40-65 years in the last decade in Sussex, the barriers and enablers to accessing HIV/STI testing in Sussex health services, including sexual health and sexual wellbeing services, and to co-produce with them HIV/ STI testing and information health promotional material. In-depth interviews, lasting approximately one hour, which will be conducted face-to-face in confidential spaces such as community centre rooms (with the option of Microsoft Teams virtual interviews), will be conducted with approximately fifteen people who identify as women, non-binary, or trans-masculine, in order to identify themes that are common around how to improve access to HIV/ STI testing within health services, including sexual health services. All interviewees will be invited to comment on the draft thematic analysis, prior to finalisation. All interviewees will then be invited to participate in an optional face-to-face co-production workshop, lasting approximately four hours, with a local artist, in a confidential community-centre space, in order to produce images and wording for posters/ pamphlets/ social media to inform and encourage people aged 40-65 years who identify as women, non-binary, and trans masculine, to access HIV/ STI testing services. The study has received financial funding from the British HIV Association.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/YH/0061
Date of REC Opinion
15 May 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion