Sezai Caglayan
How can health be more effective in peace works in Turkey: introducing peace through health
Medicine, conflict, and survival
homeless individuals face exacerbated risks infectious diseases including sexually transmitted infections stis programs led community health workers chws demonstrated potential enhance healthcare access marginalized groups homeless families study aims evaluate feasibility effectiveness novel chwbased outreach program addressing sexual health issues among individuals residing homeless hostels twelve social homeless hostels greater paris region selected program implementation sites outreach program developed consisting two interventions sexual health workshops sti screening sessions hiv hepatitis b c accompanied individual interviews conducted chws within hostel 8week period scheduled weekly feasibility participation engagement evaluated using complementary methods including qualitative field observations semistructured interviews focus groups chws satisfaction questionnaires participants quantitative outcome data collection intervention total 80 program activities workshops screening sessions conducted among participants 542 women 30 men engaged workshops 30 rapid diagnostic testing sessions 150 individuals underwent testing hiv hepatitis b andor hepatitis c positivity rates 67 hepatitis b 09 hepatitis c hiv infections detected participant satisfaction rates consistently high 76 across workshops qualitative analysis unveiled two critical axes influencing program feasibility effectiveness program organization chw involvement assessment program highlights feasibility among population difficult reach conventional healthcare efforts interventions potential effectiveness suggested self chwreported improvements sexual health literacy high rates referral healthcare system well holistic wellbeing considerations chw involvement vital determinant program success robust coordination among stakeholders deep understanding target population strong partner engagement outreach program amplifies voices oftenoverlooked populations empowering navigate health social challenges although workshops serve lifelines frequently excluded mainstream services longterm improvements health wellbeing homeless populations necessitate systemic governmental intervention