Allyson Ion - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Allyson Ion

Research paper thumbnail of “Trust Me, It’s Different”: Experiences of Peer Case Management of Women Living with HIV in Ontario, Canada

Canadian Social Work Review, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Why Are You Pregnant? What Were You Thinking?": How Women Navigate Experiences of HIV-Related Stigma in Medical Settings During Pregnancy and Birth

Social work in health care, Jan 18, 2015

Having children is a growing reality for women living with HIV in Canada. It is imperative to und... more Having children is a growing reality for women living with HIV in Canada. It is imperative to understand and respond to women's unique experiences and psychosocial challenges during pregnancy and as mothers including HIV-related stigma. This qualitative study used a narrative methodological approach to understand women's experiences of HIV-related stigma as they navigate health services in pregnancy (n = 66) and early postpartum (n = 64). Narratives of women living with HIV expose the spaces where stigmatizing practices emerge as women seek perinatal care and support, as well as highlight the relationship between HIV-related stigma and disclosure, and the impact this has on women's pregnancy and birthing experiences.

Research paper thumbnail of Examining the Health Care Experiences of Women Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Perceived HIV-Related Stigma

Women's Health Issues, 2015

Introduction: The increased incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in women, particularl... more Introduction: The increased incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in women, particularly marginalized women, prompted research to examine women's health service experiences at a local outpatient clinic. Methods: A qualitative case study using semistructured interviews examined facilitators and barriers to health care services. Seventeen women living with HIV who accessed care at an outpatient HIV clinic in central west Ontario were interviewed. Thematic analysis was used to code health care experiences perceived as HIV-related stigma. Results: Women perceived HIV-related stigma when health care providers lacked basic HIV knowledge and failed to uphold the ethical principles of patient-provider relationships, resulting in women's disengagement from health care. Conclusions: We propose a community-based participatory research framework to reform health care educational curriculum toward a culture of health care safety that is inclusive of people living with HIV.

Research paper thumbnail of HSV-2/HIV co-infection, health-related quality of life and identity in women

The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of How HIV-Positive Aboriginal Women (PAW) Talk About Their Mothering Experiences With Child and Family Services in Ontario

Journal of Public Child Welfare, 2014

ABSTRACT Aboriginal families are disproportionately involved with Children's Aid Societie... more ABSTRACT Aboriginal families are disproportionately involved with Children's Aid Societies (or CAS), which is of concern given the history of colonization, assimilation, and child welfare policies that fail to recognize Indigenous practices within Canada. There is no historical data regarding HIV-positive Aboriginal women's (PAW) experiences and interactions with the child welfare system, despite a high degree of HIV-related stigma and discrimination by CAS staff coupled with lack of HIV knowledge and sensitivity to provide culturally appropriate care to PAW and their children. This article is relevant to local and international child welfare practices, and specifically to CAS agencies across Ontario.

Research paper thumbnail of “My children and my home”: the most recent and challenging stressors of HIV-positive women

Archives of Women's Mental Health, 2010

A rchives of Women and M ental H ealth "My children & my home": The most recent and challenging s... more A rchives of Women and M ental H ealth "My children & my home": The most recent and challenging stressors of HIV positive women A BST R A C T

Research paper thumbnail of A comparison of the MOS-HIV and SF-12v2 for measuring health-related quality of life of men and women living with HIV/AIDS

AIDS Research and Therapy, 2011

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the Medical Outcome... more Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the Medical Outcomes Study-HIV Health Survey (MOS-HIV) and the SF-12v2 to determine if the latter is adequate to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of men and women living with HIV/AIDS. 112 men and women living with HIV/AIDS who access care at a tertiary HIV clinic in Hamilton, Ontario were included in this cross-sectional analysis. Correlation coefficients of the MOS-HIV physical and mental health summary scores (PHS and MHS) and the SF-12v2 physical and mental component summary scales (PCS and MCS) were calculated along with common sub-domains of the measures including physical functioning (PF), bodily pain (BP), general health perceptions (GH), vitality (VT), social functioning (SF) and mental health (MH) to explore the relationship between these two HRQoL measures. The subdomains role physical (RP) and role emotional (RE) of the SF-12v2 were compared separately to the sub-domain role functioning (RF) of the MOS-HIV. Weighted kappa scores were calculated to determine agreement beyond chance between the MOS-HIV and SF-12v2 in assigning a HRQoL state (i.e. low, moderate, good, very good).

Research paper thumbnail of “Why Aren't You Breastfeeding?”: How Mothers Living With HIV Talk About Infant Feeding in a “Breast Is Best” World

Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 07399332 2014 888720, Feb 14, 2014

Infant feeding raises unique concerns for mothers living with HIV in Canada, where they are recom... more Infant feeding raises unique concerns for mothers living with HIV in Canada, where they are recommended to avoid breastfeeding yet live in a social context of "breast is best." In narrative interviews with HIV-positive mothers from Ontario, Canada, a range of feelings regarding not breastfeeding was expressed, balancing feelings of loss and self-blame with the view of responsibility and "good mothering" under the current Canadian guidelines. Acknowledging responsibility to put their child's health first, participants revealed that their choices were influenced by variations in social and cultural norms, messaging, and guidelines regarding breastfeeding across geographical contexts. This qualitative study raises key questions about the impact of breastfeeding messaging and guidelines for HIV-positive women in Canada.

Research paper thumbnail of “Trust Me, It’s Different”: Experiences of Peer Case Management of Women Living with HIV in Ontario, Canada

Canadian Social Work Review, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Why Are You Pregnant? What Were You Thinking?": How Women Navigate Experiences of HIV-Related Stigma in Medical Settings During Pregnancy and Birth

Social work in health care, Jan 18, 2015

Having children is a growing reality for women living with HIV in Canada. It is imperative to und... more Having children is a growing reality for women living with HIV in Canada. It is imperative to understand and respond to women's unique experiences and psychosocial challenges during pregnancy and as mothers including HIV-related stigma. This qualitative study used a narrative methodological approach to understand women's experiences of HIV-related stigma as they navigate health services in pregnancy (n = 66) and early postpartum (n = 64). Narratives of women living with HIV expose the spaces where stigmatizing practices emerge as women seek perinatal care and support, as well as highlight the relationship between HIV-related stigma and disclosure, and the impact this has on women's pregnancy and birthing experiences.

Research paper thumbnail of Examining the Health Care Experiences of Women Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Perceived HIV-Related Stigma

Women's Health Issues, 2015

Introduction: The increased incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in women, particularl... more Introduction: The increased incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in women, particularly marginalized women, prompted research to examine women's health service experiences at a local outpatient clinic. Methods: A qualitative case study using semistructured interviews examined facilitators and barriers to health care services. Seventeen women living with HIV who accessed care at an outpatient HIV clinic in central west Ontario were interviewed. Thematic analysis was used to code health care experiences perceived as HIV-related stigma. Results: Women perceived HIV-related stigma when health care providers lacked basic HIV knowledge and failed to uphold the ethical principles of patient-provider relationships, resulting in women's disengagement from health care. Conclusions: We propose a community-based participatory research framework to reform health care educational curriculum toward a culture of health care safety that is inclusive of people living with HIV.

Research paper thumbnail of HSV-2/HIV co-infection, health-related quality of life and identity in women

The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of How HIV-Positive Aboriginal Women (PAW) Talk About Their Mothering Experiences With Child and Family Services in Ontario

Journal of Public Child Welfare, 2014

ABSTRACT Aboriginal families are disproportionately involved with Children's Aid Societie... more ABSTRACT Aboriginal families are disproportionately involved with Children's Aid Societies (or CAS), which is of concern given the history of colonization, assimilation, and child welfare policies that fail to recognize Indigenous practices within Canada. There is no historical data regarding HIV-positive Aboriginal women's (PAW) experiences and interactions with the child welfare system, despite a high degree of HIV-related stigma and discrimination by CAS staff coupled with lack of HIV knowledge and sensitivity to provide culturally appropriate care to PAW and their children. This article is relevant to local and international child welfare practices, and specifically to CAS agencies across Ontario.

Research paper thumbnail of “My children and my home”: the most recent and challenging stressors of HIV-positive women

Archives of Women's Mental Health, 2010

A rchives of Women and M ental H ealth "My children & my home": The most recent and challenging s... more A rchives of Women and M ental H ealth "My children & my home": The most recent and challenging stressors of HIV positive women A BST R A C T

Research paper thumbnail of A comparison of the MOS-HIV and SF-12v2 for measuring health-related quality of life of men and women living with HIV/AIDS

AIDS Research and Therapy, 2011

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the Medical Outcome... more Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the Medical Outcomes Study-HIV Health Survey (MOS-HIV) and the SF-12v2 to determine if the latter is adequate to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of men and women living with HIV/AIDS. 112 men and women living with HIV/AIDS who access care at a tertiary HIV clinic in Hamilton, Ontario were included in this cross-sectional analysis. Correlation coefficients of the MOS-HIV physical and mental health summary scores (PHS and MHS) and the SF-12v2 physical and mental component summary scales (PCS and MCS) were calculated along with common sub-domains of the measures including physical functioning (PF), bodily pain (BP), general health perceptions (GH), vitality (VT), social functioning (SF) and mental health (MH) to explore the relationship between these two HRQoL measures. The subdomains role physical (RP) and role emotional (RE) of the SF-12v2 were compared separately to the sub-domain role functioning (RF) of the MOS-HIV. Weighted kappa scores were calculated to determine agreement beyond chance between the MOS-HIV and SF-12v2 in assigning a HRQoL state (i.e. low, moderate, good, very good).

Research paper thumbnail of “Why Aren't You Breastfeeding?”: How Mothers Living With HIV Talk About Infant Feeding in a “Breast Is Best” World

Http Dx Doi Org 10 1080 07399332 2014 888720, Feb 14, 2014

Infant feeding raises unique concerns for mothers living with HIV in Canada, where they are recom... more Infant feeding raises unique concerns for mothers living with HIV in Canada, where they are recommended to avoid breastfeeding yet live in a social context of "breast is best." In narrative interviews with HIV-positive mothers from Ontario, Canada, a range of feelings regarding not breastfeeding was expressed, balancing feelings of loss and self-blame with the view of responsibility and "good mothering" under the current Canadian guidelines. Acknowledging responsibility to put their child's health first, participants revealed that their choices were influenced by variations in social and cultural norms, messaging, and guidelines regarding breastfeeding across geographical contexts. This qualitative study raises key questions about the impact of breastfeeding messaging and guidelines for HIV-positive women in Canada.