Grant: Master's Award - HIV/AIDS Community-Based Research: General Stream

This Community Based Research project with Positive Youth Outreach, the AIDS Committee of Toronto and York University aims to explore what factors enable an environment for healthy decision making and resiliency in the context of HIV related stigma for young people living with HIV. The project seeks to better understand the individual, community, social and structural level factors that enable resiliency and healthy decision making among young people living with HIV in the context of significant HIV related stigma. HIV related stigma has significant and adverse effects on the health, quality of life, well being and social support of young people living with HIV. The realities and fears of HIV related stigma are felt intensely by young people living with HIV. HIV related stigma has also been shown to impact access to services and adherence to antiretroviral therapy among young people living with HIV, as well as affecting self esteem and depression levels. Better understanding how young people living with HIV respond to unique challenges and various forms of HIV related stigma can assist in the development of relevant and effective interventions to address these factors. Using an asset based, resiliency approach, a modified form of 'body mapping' methodology will be used to engage youth in identifying individual, community and institutional assets that enable resiliency in the face of HIV related stigma. Body mapping is a process whereby people living with HIV are facilitated through a creative process of tracing, drawing and painting to depict pictures relating to their health, their history, their points of personal power, and their life goals. Each resulting map tells a unique story that illustrates the impact of HIV on the body and the soul. Research outcomes will inform ongoing program development at PYO and other programs working with young people living with HIV.