Grant: Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

Women living with HIV(WLWH) are disproportionality represented within correctional facilities worldwide and experience gender disparities and sub-optimal HIV health outcomes related to incarceration. In Canadian prisons, women are more likely to be living with HIV compared to men and experience increased barriers to achieving HIV viral suppression post-release from prison. However, despite the disproportionate burden of HIV amongst WLWH and the evident gender disparities, there remains a substantial evidence gap on the health impacts of incarceration among WLWH. With the current shift in leadership for the provision of healthcare within BC's provincial correctional centres, this research will evaluate and explore the impact of incarceration on HIV health outcomes for WLWH throughout the transition. The research will draw on empirical survey data gathered from a larger longitudinal cohort study of WLWH in Vancouver, and will employ advanced epidemiology modelling techniques to make use of longitudinal data and examine the relationship between incarceration and HIV health outcomes for WLWH. This work will be complimented by in-depth interviews with WLWH who have recently been incarcerated as well as peer mentors and service providers within the correctional healthcare system. Given the high rates of HIV among incarcerated women in Canada as well as globally, there is a critical need to translate these findings into health policy and practice. Knowledge translation of the research findings to local community, health authorities and international partners will help to inform best practice in public health policies to enhance HIV care for incarcerated women worldwide.