title: Bridging the silos in HIV and Hepatitis C prevention: a cross-provincial qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Our Youth Our Response (OYOR) study explored the scope and accessibility of existing youth-oriented human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and Hepatitis C (HCV) prevention in Atlantic Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-provincial, qualitative population health and gender-based analytic approach was used in this study. Four hundred and twenty-five documents were part of the initial scoping review, while 47 in-depth interviews across youth-relevant sectors were undertaken to explore the perceptions related to current approaches to youth-oriented HIV/HCV prevention policies and programs. The study also conducted focus group discussions with 21 key informants aimed at identifying strategies to address the challenges identified from the interview data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five overarching themes emerged from our triangulated data in relation to the present state of youth-related HIV/HCV prevention. These included: inter-organizational and intersectoral collaboration; youth engagement; access to testing; harm reduction; and education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings will assist in informing the next generation for HIV/HCV prevention aimed at youth. Specifically, the results indicate that future prevention initiatives should support the use of intersectoral collaboration, gender-based approaches, and HIV/HCV testing innovation to help de-stigmatize prevention efforts.
authors: School of Nursing, Universite de Moncton, Moncton, NB, Canada. anik.dube@umoncton.ca.
authors: Anik
authors: A
authors: Dube
authors: Faculty of Education, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada.
authors: Greg
authors: G
authors: Harris
authors: School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
authors: Jacqueline
authors: J
authors: Gahagan
authors: Nursing and Health Sciences, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB, Canada.
authors: Shelley
authors: S
authors: Doucet
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Gender; HIV and HCV prevention; Intersectoral collaboration