Development of the W-PREV Model: Integrating HIV/STBBI Prevention and Women's Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare...

IntroductionWomen, both cisgender and transgender, experience persistent inequities in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) due to sexism, transphobia, racism, and systemic discrimination. In Canada and globally, these intersecting inequities are exacerbated by limited, biomedical, and colonial models of care that overlook women's needs, leaving them underserved in HIV and sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) prevention. Our study describes the development of the Women-Centred Prevention (W-PREV) Model, designed to integrate HIV/STBBI prevention and SRH through an intersectional, women-led approach.MethodsGuided by the implementation science Knowledge-to-Action Framework, we adapted the existing Women-Centred HIV Care (WCHC) Model to address HIV/STBBI prevention and SRH needs for women. The development process included a rapid scoping review, environmental scan, and stakeholder interviews with women, clinicians, and service providers in two Canadian provinces, Ontario and Saskatchewan.ResultsFindings highlighted that structural barriers such as housing insecurity, stigma, and systemic racism often overshadow women's ability to prioritize HIV/STBBI prevention and SRH. The resulting W-PREV Model addresses these realities by integrating HIV/STBBI prevention within six interrelated domains: SRH care, gender-specific care, mental health care, substance use and harm reduction, social connection and peer support, and individual capacity building. The model's trauma- and violence-aware, person-centred, and culturally responsive foundation ensures prevention is accessible, relevant, and empowering across the life course. W-PREV is distinct in its focus on HIV/STBBI prevention and early intervention, integrating SRH, peer support, and outreach within community and clinical settings.ConclusionsThe W-PREV Model provides a comprehensive, women-centred framework that bridges clinical and community settings to support personalized HIV/STBBI prevention and SRH self-care. By grounding prevention in women's lived experiences and peer support, W-PREV promotes equitable, holistic, and sustainable care for women and gender diverse people in Canada.