What is it about?
Intersectionality explains inequality—but can it fix it? Our paper shows how. We applied it to design a peer-led HIV testing programme for Afghan immigrants in Iran, proving that listening to marginalised voices can truly shape fairer and more inclusive public health action.
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Why is it important?
Most studies use intersectionality to explain health inequalities, but few show how to apply it in real-world settings. This work is among the first to move intersectionality from theory to practice by using it as a design framework for a public health intervention. In doing so, it bridges a significant gap between critical social theory and applied health policy. The study is also timely: as global health systems strive for equity, there is an urgent need for methods that recognise overlapping vulnerabilities and power structures. Our approach offers a practical pathway to more inclusive, context-responsive health programmes.
Perspectives
For me, this study was more than an academic exercise — it was a journey of learning how theory can genuinely serve people. I have always been fascinated by the power of intersectionality to explain inequality, but I wanted to see what it could do in practice. Working with Afghan immigrants and hearing their stories made that vision real. It reminded me that research matters most when it reaches those who are often unheard. I hope this work encourages others to see intersectionality not as an abstract idea, but as a living tool for fairness and empathy in public health.
Professor Reza Majdzadeh
University of Essex
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: From theory to practice of designing for diversity: Applying intersectionality to improve HIV testing uptake, PLOS One, October 2025, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0335311.
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