HIV/AIDS continues to be a poorly understood and stigmatised topic in the UK and elsewhere. A recent UK National AIDS trust study of public knowledge and attitudes reported that knowledge of HIV is patchy. The study found little awareness that treated HIV is untransmissible and many agreed that people with HIV face negative judgement. In recent years digital health interventions have been developed to support people with preventing HIV, managing their condition or to normalise HIV as an everyday part of healthcare.

In this episode Dr Tom Witney is joined by Dr Emily Jay Nicholls, Simon Moore and Rach Hart to discuss their work and research with people living with and affected by HIV. They share experiences of developing and using digital health solutions, and critically engage with challenges and opportunities that these platforms can present.

Links to the work and research mentioned in this episode: Avert, Preptrack, Intuit project

Read more about our research group here: https://wels.open.ac.uk/research/projects/reproduction-sexualities-sexual-health-research-group

Information about and access to sexual health services is vital for everyone's health and well-being. Repeatedly, information about sexual health is not inclusive of gender-diverse people's needs. These groups often experience discrimination and stigma when trying to access sexual health services.

In the second episode, Professor Peter Keogh is joined by Dr Anastacia Tomson, a South African medical doctor and activist, and Diana Moreno the Director of Advocacy at Pro Familia Colombia, for a conversation about trans and gender diverse experiences within clinical sexual health settings. 

This episode was produced by Elizabeth Ascroft.

Link to the report mentioned by Diana during the episode: MergedFile (profamilia.org.co) 

Read more about the research group here: https://wels.open.ac.uk/research/projects/reproduction-sexualities-sexual-health-research-group 

Restrictive laws, poor implementation of services, or stigma can often prevent people from accessing abortion services in their own communities. In all of these situations, mobility plays a crucial role in preserving sexual and reproductive health rights.

This episode was produced by Elise Denis-Ramirez.