385P
INUIT AND HIV: AN ASSESSMENT OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AND PERSPECTIVES ABOUT CAPACITIES AND GAPS WITH RESPECT TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF INUIT IN NORTHERN COMMUNITIES
AF Reynolds1, H Kudluk2
¹Pauktuutit Inuit Women's Association and Canadian Inuit HIV/AIDS Network; 2Pauktuutit Inuit Women's Association and Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network, Ottawa, Ontario
Objective: To conduct an environmental scan in six northern Inuit regions of Canada to assess capacities as well as gaps and barriers for communities and regions to design and implement HIV and hepatitis C prevention and care programs and services.
Methods: A series of face-to-face consultation meetings were conducted with governmental departments, regional Inuit associations, community health representatives/workers, teachers, community members, people working in justice and corrections, youth groups, etc in the major community in each of six regions across the North – Northwest Territories (Inuvialuit region), 3 regions in Nunavut, Northern Québec and Labrador.
Results: In the absence of AIDS service organizations, all awareness activity falls to individuals who are already overstretched with competing health issues. Sexual health and issues related to sexuality, STIs, HIV, hepatitis C, etc continue to be taboo topics in many northern communities, therefore, people who are working to increase awareness often feel alone and unsupported and may be ostracized by their community. Low reported rates of Inuit with HIV have led to misconceptions about the disease – that it is a southern and/or gay men's disease or that Inuit, by virtue of geographic isolation, are protected from HIV. There are significant differences across the territories and regions in terms of prioritization at the government level, resource allocation and existing infrastructure to undertake development and implementation of HIV and hepatitis C projects and programs. In most regions, few resources (financial and human) are allocated for sexual health, HIV and hepatitis C.
Conclusions: As this project was focused on service providers, educators and government, little is known about the particular experience of Inuit youth and other community groups' understanding of HIV and hepatitis C. There is a need for increased prioritization of HIV and hepatitis C at the territorial government level and dedication of resources to sexual health. There is a need for increased information sharing across communities and regions. HIV needs to be incorporated into health and sexual health programs and services more broadly.