Supporting ethnic diverse communities
Sexual health services for our ethnic diverse communities
The Derbyshire Integrated Sexual Health Service offers support for ethnic diverse communities in both Derbyshire County and Derby City.
Different communities may require different approaches to meet the same needs, which means culturally sensitive ways of enabling people to access services are required.
The most recent figures from the Derby City census (2011) indicate that the ethnic diverse community can still experience a lack of support to meet their specific cultural needs.
The rates of gonorrhoea and chlamydia in ethnic diverse populations are three times that of the general population. Minority communities also have a higher rate of late HIV diagnoses than the rest of the population, and women from ethnic diverse communities account for 80% of women living with HIV.
Sexual health promotion practitioner
To ensure that we support all our ethnically diverse populations, Derbyshire Community Health Service have appointed a Sexual Health Promotion Practitioner covering both Derbyshire county and Derby city to achieve a greater understanding of the impact of cultural diversity, beliefs, and religion on sexual health discussions in different communities. The goal is greater support and engagement for sexual health services for our ethnic diverse communities.
Please contact our Sexual Health Promotion Practitioner, Charles Dewa for information about supporting sexual health services for the ethnic diverse communities in Derbyshire and Derby city.
Getting it right for diverse communities
Derbyshire Integrated Sexual Health Service is committed to ensuring that every service user feels welcome.
We know that some members of ethic diverse communities can have difficulties accessing health services, with some reports of negative past experiences.
We offer support to all of Derbyshire’s communities on sexual health, sexuality and sexual orientation, homophobia, isolation, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), sexual abuse, self-esteem and family and relationship issues.
People can request the support of translation services when booking an appointment. Double appointments can be requested at the point of booking, and we also offer a chaperone service where one of our health professionals will accompany patients to their appointment.Campaigns
The sexual health promotion team carries out many campaigns each year. More details and resources can be found here.
Health research tells us that ethnically diverse communities can be disproportionately affected by poor sexual health. Here are key campaigns your organisation may wish to support:
National HIV Testing Week and World Aids Day
In conjunction with our commissioners, Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council, we run annual campaigns to promote awareness of HIV and AIDs.
PrEP impact trials & campaign
Derbyshire Integrated Sexual Health Service engaged with the national PrEP impact trial aiming to reduce the risk of HIV infection. The service signed up a significant number of participants including many from ethnically diverse communities.
The trial proved very successful. As a result, we are now able to offer free PrEP subscriptions to high-risk groups as part of our ongoing campaign to reach zero HIV transmissions by 2030.
Find out more about PrEP.
Staff awareness training and sexual health promotion
The sexual health promotion team offer staff awareness training around supporting conversations with patients about their sexual health and wellbeing. This includes free condom distribution for young people and adults, HIV & PrEP awareness, and sexually transmitted infections. The team can attend your community setting to offer point of care testing, as well as signposting to our website where patients can order STI screening kits and postal condoms themselves.
Sexual health services are free, confidential, non-judgemental and can support you with culturally sensitive conversations around sexual health and wellbeing.
Please contact us, if you would like to have a chat with our team about supporting your local communities.
Partners
One of our community partners is Mojatu Foundation - a charity that works to empower and support Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities in Nottingham and Derby that are at risk from ongoing prejudice and whose needs are often overlooked.You can view the first issue of the Mojatu Derby magazine by clicking here.