Advancing Women’s Health Through Community-Engaged Research on Social and Structural Determinants of Health Screening and Substance Use

Academic Partner | Charee Thompson
Community Partner | University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System

Project Description
Social and structural determinants of health (SSDOH), including barriers related to housing, food, transportation, finances, and access to care, strongly shape women’s health outcomes and are also closely linked to substance use risk, treatment access, and recovery. In women’s health settings, screening for these factors may also involve sensitive issues such as reproductive health, caregiving burdens, interpersonal safety, and substance use. Because UI Health serves diverse communities across Chicago, including medically underserved areas where social factors can meaningfully affect care, it is an important setting for community-informed approaches to women’s health and substance use. This project will partner with a community-engaged scholar and UI Health to conduct a scoping review on facilitators and barriers to SSDOH screening in women’s health, with particular attention to implications for substance use prevention, identification, and support. Findings will be used to develop a manuscript and practical educational materials for community use.

Role of the Scholar
The Community-Academic Scholar will contribute to multiple phases of this community-engaged research project. The scholar will work with the academic and community mentors to support the scoping review process, including organizing literature, assisting with data extraction, and helping summarize key findings related to women’s health, SSDOH screening, and substance use. The scholar will also participate in translating findings into products that are meaningful for community and educational audiences, including a draft manuscript and materials the community partner can use in practice and training. Through this work, the scholar will gain experience in community-engaged research, literature synthesis, knowledge translation, and women’s health-focused health equity research related to substance use.