Grant: Catalyst Grant: HIV/AIDS CBR Program - General Stream

From their pre-migration context, social inequalities (social identities, social policies, processes of oppression and privilege, institutional conditions and practices) have continued to shape health disparities among black migrant women living with HIV in British Columbia. These inequities impact women's health experiences with increased risk of HIV diagnosis post-migration. In Canada, HIV incidence has remained relatively stable among black females since 2011 with transmission disproportionately high. A majority of these black women are from countries where HIV is endemic and transmission is attributed to heterosexual sex (primarily countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean). Despite the continued impact of HIV/AIDS among black women in Canada there has not been much work done in BC to expound their experiences of living with the disease. We propose a sequential exploratory mixed method research study using an intersectionality theoretical framework and community-based research approach. Our collaborative research objectives are: 1) determine how structural factors shape the health and social experiences of the black women living with HIV/AIDS (WLHA) in BC; 2) explore the interplay of gender, race, stigma and migration (status or attitudes) among black WLHA; 3) identify coping mechanisms for HIV-related stigma and discriminations as black WLHA navigate health and social systems. We seek to bring out the historic grassroots community response activities and experiences from the initiation of the community organization (i.e. Afro-Canadian Positive Network of BC) to their present day. We will highlight ways to address black WLHA's health and social challenges by understanding their power relations, social locations and experiences. Results from the study will inform and stimulate up-to-date and effective advocacy and population health policy with an aim to eliminate health and social disparities.