Grant: Team Grant: Boys' and Men's Health - HIV/AIDS

Research evidence shows that heterosexual African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) men experience social inequality that increases their vulnerabilities to HIV. At the same time, ACB men have been left adrift by programs, services and research that have struggled to keep pace with the changing epidemiology of HIV. The goal of the proposed research program is to reduce HIV vulnerabilities and promote resilience through active engagement of self-identified heterosexual ACB men in community HIV responses, programs, research, and policy. We will engage and mobilize self-identified heterosexual ACB men who are: aged 16 and over; residing in the Greater Toronto Area, London, Ottawa, and Windsor and HIV-positive or have never been diagnosed with HIV. We will also engage service providers and other relevant stakeholders to work closely with heterosexual ACB men. The research program objectives include: a) mobilizing self-identified heterosexual ACB men to address conditions that contribute to HIV related health disparities; b) examining social and behavioural vulnerabilities to HIV among self-identified heterosexual ACB men; c) identifying individual and structural factors that promote resilience and reduce HIV risks among self-identified heterosexual ACB men; d) building individual, community, and organizational capacity and leadership to address HIV disparities among self-identified heterosexual ACB men and communities through research, programming, and policy; and e) generating new knowledge and supporting its translation into intervention, practice, and policy in Ontario and Canada. Our mixed methods approach will include multiple methods of recruitment, data collection and analysis, and KTE. Our research program will address the programming and policy gaps affecting heterosexual ACB men in Ontario, reduce HIV-related and other social stigma, enhance HIV prevention messaging in ACB communities, and strengthen ACB men's involvement in community responses to HIV.