Grant: Operating Grant - PA: First Nations, Inuit and Metis Health

Receiving a diagnosis of HIV changes your life; learning to cope and adjust to the diagnosis and the early years following can be challenging. Moreover, Aboriginal youth often face these challenges alone due to fear of stigma and discrimination, and they are less likely to access services. If we hope to provide both timely and appropriate interventions for Aboriginal youth living with HIV from diagnosis to the early years of living with HIV, research is needed that details their experiences and perspectives during the critical period of HIV diagnosis and early years following. The purpose of this study is to arrive at an increased understanding of the experiences and needs of Aboriginal youth living with HIV from diagnosis to the first five years of living with HIV. Primary participants are Aboriginal youth who have been have been living with HIV from one to up to six years following the diagnosis. Some of the ways we will collect information include interviews combined with photovoice, which is a process that involves Aboriginal youth taking photographs to document their experiences. Aboriginal youth's support person(s) and health and social service care providers will provide additional insights about the experiences and needs of Aboriginal youth living with HIV, and recommendations about services and programs offered to Aboriginal youth. The significance of this study is fourfold. First, new knowledge will emerge about the experiences and needs of Aboriginal youth living with HIV from diagnosis to the first five years of living with HIV. Second, this study will give a voice to those Aboriginal youth participating in the study. Third, the knowledge gleaned from this study may be used to improve quality and access to existing services and programs that are meant to enhance how Aboriginal youth manage and deal with HIV. Fourth, this study will provide a basis for future community-based intervention research directed at helping Aboriginal youth living with HIV.