DETERMINING FACTORS FOR IMPROVED UPTAKE OF HARM REDUCTION SERVICES IN THE UNITED STATES: A STUDY OF INCLUSIVE, CULTURALLY SENSITIVE MESSAGING

<p>Harm reduction refers to public health policies and programs aimed at decreasing the adverse consequences associated with drug use. While harm reduction services (e.g., syringe exchange programs) can mitigate health risks, marginalized groups face barriers to service access and utilization, partially due to ineffective messaging approaches that fail to align with cultural values and experiences. A one-size-fits-all approach to messaging can negatively impact service utilization, health outcomes, and health disparities. Ineffective communication can lead to poor adherence to treatment, poorer health outcomes, and increased adverse events.</p> <p>Culturally insensitive communication contributes to stigma, mistrust, and lack of perceived relevance, discouraging service use. This provided empirical information required to develop equity-focused, culturally centered harm reduction messaging to enhance resonance, reduce stigma, and promote service utilization among racially/ethnically diverse people who use drugs and are affected by drug use. The researcher will conduct in-depth interviews with participants from underserved communities impacted by substance use. Interview questions elicited perspectives on barriers to harm reduction service use and recommendations for crafting messaging content to engage populations often excluded from one-size-fits-all health promotion efforts effectively. Findings will inform the creation of culturally sensitive messaging strategies consisting of language, values, visuals, dissemination channels, and engagement approaches specifically tailored to promote relevance and service access/uptake among marginalized subgroups. Centering community voices and cultural expertise, this research identified equity gaps and barriers to diverse populations' unique harm reduction needs.<strong></strong></p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation - Public Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Community Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2024

Author dc:creator

• Omale, Lauretta Ekanem

Contributors dc:contributor

• Judah Viola, Ph.D
• Bradley Olson, Ph.D
• Modena Stinnette Ph.D

• Harm Reduction Intervention
• Substance Use
• Public Health
• Recovery
• Cultural Sensitivity
• Messaging
• Cultural Attunement Theory
• Language of Cultural Humility
• Message Channels
• Message framing
• Service Utilization
• Historical Barriers and Trauma
• Cultural Norms and Expectations
• Cultural Pride and Identity Affrimation
• Barriers to Utilization of Harm Reduction Services
• Cultural Attitude Towards Substance Use
• Readiness
• Sprituality
• Faith and Traditions
• Trusted Messengers
• Diversity
• Africana Studies
• African History
• African Languages and Societies
• Community-Based Learning
• Community-Based Research
• Educational Psychology
• Family, Life Course, and Society
• Health and Medical Administration
• Health Policy
• Human Ecology
• Inequality and Stratification
• Mental and Social Health
• Other Languages, Societies, and Cultures
• Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration
• Policy Design, Analysis, and Evaluation
• Policy History, Theory, and Methods
• Psychiatry and Psychology
• Psychology
• Race and Ethnicity
• Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies
• Social Work
• Sociology of Culture
• Theory, Knowledge and Science
• Work, Economy and Organizations

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/846

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.nl.edu:diss-1907