ALIVE - Amplifying the Lived Experiences of East London Communities
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Amplifying the Lived Experiences of East London Communities: A mixed-methods, observational study of the lived experiences and research priorities of racially minoritised communities in East London
IRAS ID
309294
Contact name
Vanessa Apea
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
The pernicious impact of longstanding health inequalities in East London have been starkly exposed in the COVID-19 pandemic. The need for prioritised and dedicated action to achieve health equity has never been greater.
Health inequalities are avoidable, unfair and systematic differences in health between different groups of people and have long been recognised in the UK, with people living in the least deprived areas of the country living around 20 years longer in good health than those in the most deprived areas. East London lies at the epicentre of this inequality. It is a densely urbanised region, with high deprivation and hyper-diverse populations, that has specific and often challenging healthcare needs.
Within HIV and Sexual Health, East London communities experience higher rates of late HIV diagnosis, poor engagement with HIV care and sexually transmitted infections. This inequity is underpinned by a complex interplay of biological determinants (age, gender, hereditary factors) and wider social determinants such as education, social position, income, poverty, local environment and experiences of stigma and institutional racism, that is poorly understood. Eliminating inequalities requires focussed research to understand and capture the complexity of how these factors interact to generate, sustain and escalate disparities.
We hypothesise that by identifying and understanding the root causes and drivers of inequalities in HIV and Sexual Health outcomes, treatment and prevention interventions can be appropriately tailored to mitigate these differences and optimise health outcomes. This learning will inform and extend to wider health inequalities. Authentic and representative community engagement, harnessing their lived realities and expertise, is vital if we are to truly achieve impactful and sustainable change for all. The populations of focus will be heterogeneous, women of Black African heritage (WBA) and women of Black Caribbean heritage (WBC), communities seldom often heard but experiencing significant sexual ill-health in East London.
REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/WM/0110
Date of REC Opinion
11 Jul 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion