Grant: Doctoral Research Award - PA: Health Services/Pop. Health HIV/AIDS Research

There is an over-representation of HIV and AIDS incidence, prevalence and mortality rates in Aboriginal communities. The eradication of HIV is not yet possible therefore persons undergoing treatment must take highly active anti-retroviral therapy regularly. Yet many do not adhere to treatment. It is a reality that many Aboriginal people still have unresolved trauma secondary to the residential schools legacy, and this explains in part their low adherence to HIV treatment. A critical look at individual experiences can lead to the consideration of the areas of strength and adaptation, and better inform policy and decision-making. The objectives of this study are to: assess the impact of historic trauma on treatment in Aboriginal people living with HIV and AIDS in BC; compare the influence of historic trauma on treatment in BC between youth and adults, across gender, and between survivors and non-survivors of residential schools; examine the role of resilience in those who participate in community development and healing projects or circles to deal with trauma; and offer culturally-sensitive recommendations to better address historic trauma, aimed at improving treatment-seeking behavior and adherence to treatment and reducing deaths due to HIV or AIDS. Aboriginal youth and adults from Vancouver who are currently on highly active anti-retroviral therapy will be interviewed. Recruitment will be through purposive sampling and theoretical sampling. Qualitative interpretive description will be used. A letter of approval for the study has been provided by the Vancouver Native Health Society clinic research committee. Ethics approval will be sought from the Research Ethics Board at the University of Northern BC. Provisions of the Tri-Council Policy Statement on Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans will also be followed. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions will be conducted, transcribed and coded. Thematic analysis will be conducted.