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Abstract
The purpose of this community-based research was to examine the experiences of Canadian Aboriginal youth regarding accessing HIV testing and care services. We used a mixed method exploratory research design; 413 participants completed a self-administered survey and 25 youth participated in in-depth semistructured interviews. Findings reported here are from the 26 survey participants (12.4%) and nine interview participants (28.9%) who self-reported being positive for HIV. Results of this study suggest that some Aboriginal youth do not test for HIV until late in the course of their disease, and once diagnosed, a significant number of youth delay accessing care. Support from friends, family, and others is an important motivator for youth to initiate care and treatment. Integrated, comprehensive, youth-friendly, and culturally safe services are important to keep youth in care.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank our Steering Committee for their wisdom and guidance throughout this project; our community partners for their time and effort and collaboration; and of course, the youth who participated in this research for sharing their thoughts and experiences with us. Without them, this research would not be possible. Funding for this project was provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Notes
*This was a multiple response question so percentages do not sum to 100%.
*This was a multiple response question so percentages do not sum to 100%.