HIV testing and care in Canadian Aboriginal youth: a community based mixed methods study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Indigenous Health

Background:

• HIV infection poses a significant risk to Canadian Aboriginal youth.
• Limited research exists on HIV testing and care within this demographic.
• This study addresses the gap by exploring HIV testing and care decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate HIV testing behaviors among Canadian Aboriginal youth.
• To understand the factors influencing HIV testing decisions.
• To examine care-seeking patterns after HIV diagnosis.

Main Methods:

• Community-based mixed-method design adhering to Aboriginal research principles (OCAP).
• Data collection via surveys (n=413) and qualitative interviews (n=28).
• Recruitment involved 11 community-based organizations across seven provinces and one territory.

Main Results:

• 51% of surveyed youth and 25/28 interviewees had been tested for HIV.
• Common reasons for testing included unprotected sex and pregnancy; reasons for not testing involved perceived low risk or invulnerability.
• Among those testing positive, 23.1% had AIDS at diagnosis, with care-seeking delays ranging from months to seven years.

Conclusions:

• Encouragingly, many youth test based on realistic risk assessment.
• Perceived invulnerability acts as a barrier to HIV testing for some.
• Delays in accessing health services post-diagnosis are a significant concern for positive individuals.