Publications by authors named "Melvina Woode Owusu"

Background: The ability to access and navigate online sexual health information and support is increasingly needed in order to engage with wider sexual healthcare. However, people from underserved populations may struggle to pass though this "digital doorway". Therefore, using a behavioural science approach, we first aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to i) seeking online sexual health information and ii) seeking online sexual health support.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: According to European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports, women and migrants are more likely to have delayed HIV diagnosis (CD4 <350 cells/mm). As a follow-up to a previously published systematic review revealing a range of barriers to HIV testing among migrant women, the aim of the present study was to identify barriers to HIV testing from the perspective of service providers and to formulate possible interventions to improve access to HIV healthcare among migrants in Europe, with an emphasis on migrant women.

Methods: Between November 2021 and February 2022 an online survey, consisting of 20 questions, was forwarded to 178 stakeholders and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working with migrant populations in 33 countries from the World Health Organization (WHO) European region.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: HIV transmission persists in Europe, with migrants accounting for over two-fifths of new diagnoses. Over half of all women in Europe are diagnosed late - particularly migrant women. Therefore, an updated understanding of migrant women's needs is crucial to inform inclusive and relevant HIV research, services, and policies.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Accelerated partner therapy has shown promise in improving contact tracing. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of accelerated partner therapy in addition to usual contact tracing compared with usual practice alone in heterosexual people with chlamydia, using a biological primary outcome measure.

Methods: We did a crossover cluster-randomised controlled trial in 17 sexual health clinics (clusters) across England and Scotland.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Self-sampling packs for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood-borne viruses (BBVs) are widely offered. There are ongoing problems with reach and sample return rates. The packs have arisen without formal intervention development.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: This paper describes the process of optimizing a widely offered intervention-self-sampling packs for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood borne viruses (BBVs). We drew upon the behaviour change wheel (BCW) approach, incorporating the theoretical domains framework (TDF) and the behaviour change technique taxonomy (BCTTv1) to systematically specify potential intervention components that may optimize the packs.

Methods: A BCW analysis built upon prior thematic analyses of qualitative data collected through focus groups and interviews with members of the public and people recruited from sexual health clinics in Glasgow and London (n = 56).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: To develop a classification of sexual partner types for use in partner notification (PN) for STIs.

Methods: A four-step process: (1) an iterative synthesis of five sources of evidence: scoping review of social and health sciences literature on partner types; analysis of relationship types in dating apps; systematic review of PN intervention content; and review of PN guidelines; qualitative interviews with public, patients and health professionals to generate an initial comprehensive classification; (2) multidisciplinary clinical expert consultation to revise the classification; (3) piloting of the revised classification in sexual health clinics during a randomised controlled trial of PN; (4) application of the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to identify index patients' willingness to engage in PN for each partner type.

Results: Five main partner types emerged from the evidence synthesis and consultation: 'established partner', 'new partner', 'occasional partner', 'one-off partner' and 'sex worker'.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: 1.5 million people in the UK have mild to moderate learning disabilities. STIs and bloodborne viruses (BBVs) are over-represented in people experiencing broader health inequalities, which include those with mild learning disabilities.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Partner notification (PN) seeks to identify and treat sexual partners of individuals with STIs, with accelerated partner therapy (APT) being a method that involves assessing partners before providing treatment through the index patient.
  • The Limiting Undetected Sexually Transmitted Infections to Reduce Morbidity program aims to evaluate the effectiveness of APT in reducing chlamydia transmission among heterosexual individuals and its potential population-level impact.
  • This study will include a randomized controlled trial across 17 sexual health clinics, involving over 5400 participants, with the primary outcome focused on STI positivity after 12-16 weeks and secondary outcomes including treatment rates, cost effectiveness, and patient experiences with APT.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This article describes the Hard-to-Reach (HtR) Project that was developed to capture health and lifestyle data from groups who are HtR by postal surveys within the larger EURO-URHIS 2 project. By collaborating with partner organizations, data were collected using standard survey tools, allowing for comparison with the wider population. Following a scoping exercise to determine which groups were HtR in Greater Manchester, black and minority ethnic (BME) groups and students were selected.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Migrant populations from countries with generalised HIV epidemics make up a significant proportion of all HIV/AIDS cases in many European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries, with heterosexual transmission the predominant mode of HIV acquisition. While most of these infections are diagnosed for the first time in Europe, acquisition is believed to have predominantly occurred in the home country. A proportion of HIV transmission is believed to be occurring post-migration, and many countries may underestimate the degree to which this is occurring.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Synopsis of recent research by authors named "Melvina Woode Owusu"

  • - Melvina Woode Owusu's research focuses on improving access and addressing barriers to HIV testing and sexual health services, particularly among marginalized groups like migrant women and individuals from Black Caribbean heritage.
  • - Recent findings highlight significant impediments to HIV healthcare access for migrant populations, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions that consider cultural and systemic obstacles.
  • - Additionally, her work has explored innovative approaches to enhance sexual health interventions, like the use of self-sampling packs and the classification of sexual partner types, to optimize effectiveness in partner notification and increase inclusivity.