Grant: Operating Grant

During the past decade the number of Aboriginal people diagnosed with HIV in Canada has grown more than any other ethnicity. Although Aboriginal people comprise only 4% of BC's population, they represent more than 13% of all positive tests. Whereas the majority of infections are related to injection drug use, factors that explain elevated risk and transmission of HIV among Aboriginal young people who use illicit drugs are not well understood. The Cedar Project is an observational study addressing HIV and HCV related vulnerabilities of Aboriginal young people living in Vancouver, Kamloops and Prince George, BC. We have recently identified concerning rates of both HCV and HIV infection, transition to injection and crystal methamphetamine use. Having an established cohort designed and implemented with Aboriginal partners and investigators now allows us the opportunity to expand our work to include identification of resiliency and protective factors from the perspectives of Aboriginal young people and focus in particular on a case management intervention aimed at increasing utilization of HIV care among HIV positive Cedar participants.