Grant: Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant: Knowledge Translation

The proposed initiative will utilize different strategies to engage researchers, service providers, policy makers, community advocates and members of the African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) communities around issues identified in the report The East African Health Study in Toronto (EAST): Results from a Survey of HIV and Health-Related Behaviour, Beliefs, Attitudes, and Knowledge and other HIV prevention research. EAST was conducted in response to the lack of population-based data necessary to assess HIV-related issues in these communities, and to assist in the development of intervention programs and strategies. 456 participants from the Ethiopian, Kenyan, Somali, Ugandan, and Tanzanian communities in the GTA participated in the study. Data was collected using a cross-sectional survey and a saliva sample for HIV screening. EAST has generated new knowledge and provided a platform to build effective programs, policies and further research. Proposed initiative will bring together multiple stakeholders involved in HIV/AIDS in ACB communities to network/share knowledge; develop strategies/actions plans to deal with identified issues; discuss other KTE strategies for future studies; and facilitate more meaningful community-academic partnerships. We will undertake the following: a) Organize a forum to share findings from EAST and other HIV preventions studies; develop strategies/actions to deal with identified HIV prevention issues; discuss future research; and develop mechanisms for supporting populations based studies in marginalized communities; b) Continue dissemination of EAST via web based strategies. c) Develop fact sheets, one to summarize findings from EAST in lay language and the other to document strategies/action plans developed at the forum to deal with HIV prevention issues discussed at the forum. ii) Print for distribution the report documenting Lessons Learned on implementation of population based studies.