Women-Centred HIV Care (WCHC)
WCHC is a holistic model of care that was developed from CHIWOS findings.
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It is meant to be offered to all women, in all their diversity and across all stages of life.
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The WCHC model was implemented in the form of two evidence-based toolkits.
The WCHC model is in the shape of a "house" to represent safety and stability—essential aspects for care delivery. Trauma- and violence- aware care is the “foundation” to acknowledge the alarmingly high rates of violence, trauma and intersecting oppressions women living with HIV face.
Person-centred care with attention to social determinants of health and family make up the “first floor”. For many women, ensuring their family is cared for is essential to their wellbeing as is ensuring adequate housing and livable income as well as other social determinants of health. The “second floor” contains 3 rooms: competent HIV care is integrated with women’s health (including sexual and reproductive health and rights) and mental health and addiction care; this is important as many women living with HIV do not see any other clinicians other than their HIV clinician.
The “roof” contains peer support, leadership and capacity-building which are integral to the model. The woman herself is the most essential component of the model. WCHC emphasizes the shared-care decision-making principle of person-centred care. The woman is often supported by a peer to enter the house; together the women are holding up the glowing component of peer support.
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To read more about the WCHC model and its development, please see the article by Loutfy et al. (2021): you may read it for free online or download a copy here.