Ending the HIV Epidemic With Equity: an Intervention to Reduce the Impact of Racism and Discrimination

Description

The scope of this study is to engage Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) funded organizations in the South/East US to co-develop context-responsive programs utilizing evidence-informed interventions to reduce structural racism and discrimination (SRD) against Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) living with HIV (PLH) and BIPOC healthcare workers. SRD directly impacts access to and uptake of healthcare for BIPOC, including engagement in HIV services across the continuum of prevention and care. The proposed intervention, titled TRAnscenDS, draws on the evidence-based Health Policy Plus (HP+) ‘total’ facility HIV stigma-reduction intervention and Contact Theory of demonstrated efficacy in reducing race-related intergroup prejudice. TRAnscenDS targets the clinics’ organizational (e.g.,anti-racist and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies) and systems (e.g., staff attitudes/behaviors) levels to affect patient (e.g., experienced and perceived discrimination, HIV care, mental health) outcomes and staff (e.g., job satisfaction) wellbeing, at the individual level. Findings will yield a Manual for implementing total-facility SRD-reduction processes and content. Other RWHAP-funded clinics and facilities serving marginalized groups may be able to adopt this manualized yet highly adaptable intervention packet to support BIPOC.