378P
HIV TESTING DECISIONS AND EXPERIENCES IN CANADIAN ABORIGINAL YOUTH
J Mill1, R Jackson2, C Worthington3, T Myers4, C Archibald5, T Wong5
¹University of Alberta/Faculty of Nursing, Edmonton, Alberta; 2Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network, Ottawa, Ontario; 3University of Calgary/Faculty of Social Work, Calgary, Alberta; 4University of Toronto/Faculty of Medicine, Toronto; 5Health Canada/Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario
Objectives: To explore HIV testing decisions and experiences of Canadian Aboriginal youth.
Methods: An exploratory, collaborative design was used for this study. Data were collected using a self-completed survey and in-depth interviews. Reported here are findings from the survey data with 413 youth recruited through 10 Aboriginal organizations across Canada, including AIDS service organizations, health centres, community organizations, and friendship centres.
Results: Participants ranged in age from 15 to 30 years of age (mean 21.5 years), and came from Inuit (11%), Métis (21%), and First Nations (57% status, 7% non-status) backgrounds. 53% of participants were female. 42% reported currently following traditional Aboriginal practices, and 30% currently lived in a First Nations, Métis or Inuit community. 13% reported being gay, homosexual, lesbian, or Two-Spirit. 51% of the youth had ever had an HIV test. For those who had not tested, 22% indicated they did not know where testing was available. For those who had tested, the majority had tested once, with the last test occurring for 60% within the last 18 months. Of these, 13% (26) had tested HIV positive. While the majority of those tested indicated at their last HIV test they had been treated with care (80%), respect (77%), or kindness (76%), many also reported being treated with hostility (19%), fear (12%), discrimination (11%), avoidance (10%), or in a bored way (15%). Testing was significantly associated with age; being female (and if female, ever having been pregnant); being gay, homosexual, or Two-Spirit; following traditional Aboriginal practices; living away from an Aboriginal community; ever having had an STI; ever having had oral or anal sex; and injection drug use (all p < .01).
Conclusion: Accessible, confidential and culturally appropriate HIV testing and counselling are important strategies to prevent the spread of HIV among Aboriginal youth.