Miller Research was appointed in August 2022 by Lambeth Council, Department of Sexual Health to undertake a series of focus groups to discuss a new HIV Care and Support Service within Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham. Miller Research was recruited to hold three focus groups to engage with:
- People currently using the service
- Staff who deliver the service
Two focus groups were held to hear from residents within the three boroughs who are living with HIV or have knowledge of HIV through a friend or family member. One focus group was held with staff who have worked in the delivery of the HIV Care and Support Service within the three boroughs.
Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham have been committed to supporting People Living with HIV (PLHIV) to live well and healthier. This non-clinical HIV Care and Support Services was commissioned in 2017 by the three boroughs to further understand if the current service specification meets the requirements of today’s service users, and to understand how to promote the service to those who do not use it.
The key aims for the focus groups were:
- To understand self-described needs of People Living with HIV and most-at-risk communities
- To understand how people access non-clinical HIV support services
- To discuss how the three boroughs new HIV Care and Support Service could address the health and wellbeing needs of People Living with HIV across Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham.
A qualitative approach was particularly valuable in gaining insight into the lived experiences of people within the three boroughs. Through the three focus groups we were able to gain detailed information about particular barriers faced by people living with HIV.
There were a certain number of key issues for individuals with HIV diagnosis. It is important to point out that these barriers are also faced by individuals without a HIV diagnosis.
Key barriers included;
- Lack of therapy and mental health support
- Stigma associated with being HIV positive
- Prejudice behaviour
- Inherent mistrust of organisations
- Preference for face to face contact for transparency, understanding and confidence
- Lack of support for those within marginalised groups
These barriers were explored in detail in the PowerPoint report for Lambeth Council. The findings from this research will then go on to inform Lambeth Council’s further work on supporting people living with HIV.