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Understanding how Indigenous populations perceive HIV/AIDS is of high relevance for the implementation of culturally appropriate interventions. The study analyzed the ways in which Indigenous Wayuu communities of Colombia socially perceive and respond to HIV/AIDS from their sociocultural realities and their knowledge of the illness. It analyzed qualitative data from 9 focus groups and 29 semi-structured interviews. The Wayuu think of HIV/AIDS as “the illness”, that it is incurable, fatal, transmitted from alijunas (non Wayuu), and beyond their understanding. They seem to perceive HIV/AIDS similarly to the ways Western societies perceived unknown or misunderstood epidemics in the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Indigenous young people are currently highly overrepresented in the HIV epidemic in Canada, especially in the Prairie Provinces, such as Manitoba. Understanding HIV-vulnerability in Indigenous peoples must begin with understanding that social determinants are intersectional and linked to the historical legacy of European colonization. In this paper findings that detail the influence of the intersectional social determinants on Indigenous people who become infected with HIV in their youth are presented. Methods: The qualitative research design of phenomenology was used as it afforded the opportunity to understand Indigenous young people from their frames of reference and experiences of reality, resulting in a phenomenological understanding of their perspectives and experiences of the early years of living with HIV. A total of 21 Indigenous young people took part open-ended interviews. Results: The stories that the Indigenous young people shared revealed their deeply interconnected social worlds, and how social determinants including abuse, trauma, being part of the child welfare system, and housing and food security were connected throughout various stages of their lives. Such stages included childhood, adolescence and young adulthood (the time of HIV infection), and later adulthood for older participants with the social determinants having multiple influences on their health trajectories. Conclusions: The findings highlight the need for policies and programs that are broadly focused, addressing multiple social determinants together. Overall, there needs to be more emphasis on the multiple social determinants in the life situations of all Indigenous youth. Reducing the health and social disparities in Indigenous youth is key to reducing the number of young Indigenous people diagnosed with HIV. The findings also shed light on the importance of listening to young Indigenous people who have experienced HIV diagnosis and life following diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are 87 Indigenous ethnic groups in Colombia, representing 3.4% of the country's population. Poverty, forced displacement, and social and health inequities place Indigenous communities at increased risk of HIV/AIDS. However, little is known about the prevalence of HIV in this population. The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections in an Indigenous community in Colombia, and to assess community members' knowledge about the disease and its risk factors. The study, conducted in 2010, was initiated at the request of the leadership of the community of Cristianía and involved community members in all stages of the project. HIV prevalence data were gathered through rapid testing of a random sample of 295 community members between the ages of 15 and 49 years. As well, researchers administered a survey related to sexual behaviours and knowledge about HIV. Findings revealed 3 cases of HIV, a prevalence of 1.02%, 95% CI [0.21, 2.94]. The 3 cases were women. The majority of individuals sampled had heard of HIV or AIDS, but their level of knowledge about the mechanisms of virus transmission varied substantially. The results of this study, the first to explore the prevalence of HIV among Indigenous people within a community in Colombia, suggest a need to investigate HIV prevalence within other Indigenous communities in Colombia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This community-based study sought to understand the caregiving support networks of people living with HIV/AIDS in Winnipeg and Regina, Canada. Qualitative data from 31 participants were gathered from photographs that each individual took of daily life and from in-depth individual interviews. A novel dissemination approach was the creation and performance of a readers' theatre based on the interview data. This article explains the process of creating and using readers' theatre with HIV/AIDS service agencies and community members, and it discusses main lessons learned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand whether HIV-positive persons experience stigma in relation to HIV/AIDS and how it has impacted their lives and that of their families. Ethnographic techniques were used to collect data from Kerala, India. The findings were organized into three themes: (a) physical appearance and HIV-related stigma; (b) the “informed” and the “ignorant”: knowledge and ignorance in the context of HIV/AIDS; and (c) immorality as a perceived cause of HIV infection and the family context. The study highlighted the need to develop a more nuanced understanding of HIV-related stigma that extends beyond the current conceptualization of stigma [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) are currently overrepresented in the HIV epidemic in Canada and are infected at a younger age than those who are not Indigenous. This article presents our findings on the stigma and discrimination (as well as related themes such as disclosure) experienced by Indigenous people who contracted HIV in their youth and live in urban and non-urban settings in Manitoba, Canada. The findings were derived from a qualitative study that sought to understand the experiences and needs of Indigenous people living with HIV (including AIDS). We situate such experiences within a social ecological framework towards developing a better structural understanding of the impacts of stigma and discrimination on the lives of Indigenous people who are HIV positive. Stigma and discrimination caused barriers for Indigenous people living with HIV through inhibiting their ease of access to supports including family, peers, community, and long- and short-term health services. Creative forms of outreach and education that are culturally appropriate and/or rooted in culture were considered to be possibly impactful ways of reducing stigma and discrimination at the community level. Learning from communities who are successfully managing stigma also showed promise for developing new programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]