The LionsDen Award for Writing Excellence – Healthcare Professionals

Summary of work

Women for Positive Action aims to empower, educate and support professionals caring for women living with HIV (WLWH) through the provision of practical support and guidance across a range of challenging issues in addition to highlighting areas where further research is required. In 2011 and 2012 the group focused on the sensitive topic of reproductive health by publishing a peer-reviewed paper discussing existing evidence and highlighting gaps in the literature to encourage increased research in this area. A supporting educational slide kit was updated to offer practical support and guidance to those involved in the care of WLWH. The group also released a short statement, in conjunction with World AIDS Day, highlighting the potential impact of gender differences in HIV on care and calling for additional research involving WLWH. Women for Positive Action extended the reach of these materials through local country activities, a multilingual website and Twitter.

Judges comments

This had good relevance and suitability for the audience and was an impressive and important study in a very worthwhile area. It was a comprehensive survey that clearly identified the gaps in the literature and the way forward and explained it in a way that gave healthcare professionals the tools to communicate this information to their audience.