What Asian Asian Women Women in in Canada Canada think think What about HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS prevention prevention about
www.acas.org
www.asaap.ca Authors:
Lynne Leonard – University of Ottawa Sue McWilliam – Danlhousie University Noulmook Sutdhibhasilp – Asian Community AIDS Services, Presenting Author Vijaya Chikermane – Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention, Presenting Author Mona Loutfy – Women's College Research Institute
Peggy Millson – University of Toronto Robert Ramis – University of Toronto Janet Rowe – 519 Church St. Community Centre Wangari Tharao – Women's Health in Women's Hands June Yee – Ryerson University
Background: In Canada, women accounted for 23% of people living with HIV (2011). Yet there is little research on the HIV prevention needs of culturally diverse communities of women. The Ontario Women's Study (OWS) aims to address this gap in knowledge. The study includes a comprehensive qualitative analysis of women's attitudes towards HIV/AIDS; their existing knowledge of risk; the individual and structural forces that add to risk; and, the strategies for prevention that are most relevant to their lives. This presentation is focused on the findings from the Asian women's components of the overall study in Ontario.
Results: Twenty participants (mean age = 40; range=23-69 years) spoke English, Tamil, Urdu, Chinese, Filipino, Thai, and other languages. From 2005 to 2010, the greatest proportion of women (45%) never had an HIV test whereas 30% had an HIV test. They identified the following principal factors influencing HIV prevention: 1) Lack of discussion about HIV within Asian communities. 2) Male-dominated or abusive relationships. 3) Stigma surrounding HIV, sex and sexuality, perpetuating a lack of HIV-related education, resources and deterrence towards testing.
Methods: Focus groups among East and Southeast Asian, and of South Asian women, facilitated by trained community-based researchers, were conducted separately. Participants were recruited through community-based organizations, members of the expert working group and through snowballing. Discussions were audiorecorded, transcribed verbatim, coded and analyzed thematically.
4) Gender norms infused with cultural and religious tradition, which hinder women to openly discuss their sexual health needs as related to HIV. Some see HIV as a 'moral' issue. 5) Pressure to maintain sexual innocence to preserve reputation and desirability. 6) Financial or social dependence on men, which increased HIV risk for heterosexual women with fewer options to ensure survival and safety.
Design: Aries Cheung at TransMedia9 Inc.
Conclusions: The women identified actionable strategies for HIV prevention for policy makers and service providers as follows: 1. Decreasing HIV/AIDS stigma is a precursor to HIV education so that women would feel comfortable accessing resources.
We wish to thank: ! Ontario HIV Treatment Network ! AIDS Bureau of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care ! Infrastructure support: HIV and HCV Prevention Research Team, U of Ottawa
2. HIV education should be embedded in more general health and well being programs to reduce community fear around HIV and stigma. It should be introduced in community and women's centres across geographical locations, and in a culturally and linguistically appropriate way. 3. Involving men in HIV education was strongly suggested as women identified male dominated systems and cultural practise to play a key role in risk.