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

In Canada, Aboriginal women have higher rates of HIV when compared to other populations of women. Injection drug use (IDU) increases susceptibility to HIV infection, and data illustrates that young, Aboriginal women who use injection drugs are particularly susceptible to HIV infection. However, the complexity of the relationship between IDU and vulnerability for HIV infection among young, Aboriginal women is poorly understood. Specifically, there is lack of understanding regarding the larger social, economic, historical, and personal factors that influence IDU practices. Thus, the proposed project will explore the social context of young Aboriginal women's drug use in an urban context. The project will investigate how women use injection drugs, who they use with, where they use, and how and where they obtain the equipment to use to highlight the social, economic, historical, and personal factors that influence IDU practices. Data collection will involve interviews with 40 Aboriginal women aged 19-30 who are presently using injection drugs. Recruitment of participants for the study will occur with the support of an advisory committee of Aboriginal women in collaboration with sites in a neighbourhood where I and the research team have established relationships. The study will also include participant observation in the neighbourhood where women use drugs, and will focus on individual, interpersonal and structural factors that influence IDU practices. Examining the social context of Aboriginal women's injection drug use is essential to develop meaningful and effective HIV prevention efforts. If a clearer understanding is gained with regards to how young Aboriginal women are using injection drugs, meaningful health service programming can be developed. Ultimately, these health services will be designed specifically for the needs of this highly vulnerable population to minimize the transmission of HIV and improve health outcomes.