Sexual Health of Men in Northern Ireland Prisons
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Project Title |
Improving the sexual health of men in Northern Ireland's Prisons System: A nurse led initiative |
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Research Focus: |
Maternal and Child Health |
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Funder & Duration |
Burdett Trust for Nursing Jan 2017 – Jan 2018 |
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Principal Investigator or Primary Supervisor |
Dr Carmel Kelly
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Chief Investigators or additional supervisors |
Professor Maria Lohan |
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Research Fellow(s) or PhD Student |
Dr Michelle Templeton |
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Name & Institution of Collaborators |
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Name of External Partner Organisations |
South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust (SET) Department of Justice (NI) Northern Ireland Prison Service |
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Description of Project Aim, Methods, Outcome |
This project aims to improve the sexual health of men within Northern Ireland's Prisons. The South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust is responsible for prison healthcare and is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of this population. The project has two strands.
Firstly, we are trialling a new and innovative model for prison healthcare in this nurse-led initiative. This project seeks to expand the roles and responsibilities of nurses by training them to, i) provide a sexual health check-up for all male prisoners; ii) take their sexual histories confidently, sensitively and non-judgementally; iii) treat uncomplicated cases of sexually transmitted infections; and iv) develop a robust pathway for dealing with partner notification and referring complicated cases (Gonorrhoea, Syphilis and HIV) to the Consultant. This is important because routine sexual health check-ups are advised for the general public and most infections can be cured if caught early.
Secondly, we used a participatory action research model with a group of young men from Hydebank Wood College, which resulted in the development of a short animation video, encouraging a positive approach to looking after one's sexual health by attending for check-ups.
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Associated with the project. |
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Add links/URLs to external pages, e.g., reports, publications |
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Any other relevant information |
An official launch of the project is planned for 15th March 2018. |