Using concept mapping to inform the development of a transitional reintegration intervention program for formerly incarcerated people with HIV

Abstract

BackgroundAccessing HIV-related care is challenging for formerly incarcerated people with HIV. Interventions informed by the perspectives of these individuals could facilitate engagement with care and address competing priorities that may act as barriers to this process.MethodsWe used concept mapping to identify and prioritize the main obstacles to engaging with HIV-related care following prison release. In brainstorming sessions, formerly incarcerated people with HIV generated responses to a focused prompt regarding the main barriers to reengaging with care. These were consolidated in 35 statements. Next, participants sorted the consolidated list of responses into groups and rated each from lowest to highest in terms of its importance and feasibility of being addressed. We used cluster analysis to generate concept maps that were interpreted with participants.ResultsOverall, 39 participants participated in brainstorming sessions, among whom 18 returned for rating and sorting. Following analysis, a seven-cluster map was generated, with participants rating the ‘Practical Considerations’ (e.g. lack of transportation from prison) and ‘Survival Needs’ (e.g. securing housing and food) clusters as most important. Although ratings were generally similar between women and men, women assigned greater importance to barriers related to reconnecting with children.ConclusionsUsing concept mapping, we worked with formerly incarcerated people with HIV to identify and prioritize key challenges related to accessing health and social services following prison release. Transitional intervention programs should include programs and processes that address meeting basic subsistence needs and overcoming logistical barriers related to community re-entry.

A Systematic Review to Inform the Development of a Reporting Guideline for Concept Mapping Research

“…The final concept map, on average, had seven clusters. Seven studies included reports of the peer-review process [31][32][33][34][35][36][37]. The authors of one study indicated that they followed a reporting guideline when preparing their manuscript [38].…”

Identifying structural risk factors for overdose following incarceration: a concept mapping study

“…Concept mapping has been employed in several settings, including domestic violence, end-of-life initiatives, and substance use (Crawford-Browne & Kaminer, 2012 ; Rao et al, 2005 ; Windsor, 2013 ). Of the concept mapping studies related to substance use and criminal legal involvement, each focuses on only one of these topics or a different connection (e.g., incarceration and HIV) (Antoniou et al, 2019 ; Pauly et al, 2022 ; Urbanoski et al, 2020 ). It is, however, underutilized in understanding the relationship between criminal legal involvement and overdoses.…”

HIV/STI/HCV Risk Clusters and Hierarchies Experienced by Women Recently Released from Incarceration

“…Notwithstanding these gaps, a handful of cluster analytical approaches conducted to date offer some preliminary insights. First, hierarchical cluster analysis has demonstrated the need for trauma-informed services among formerly incarcerated people living with HIV [ 31 ]. Second, cluster analytic approaches used in combination with binary logistic regression identified a sub-cluster of individuals in the criminal legal system deemed to be frequent systems utilizers at high risk of reincarceration, with a shared risk profile of higher numbers of homeless episodes, rates of bipolar disorder and depression, and felony convictions [ 32 ].…”