An icon of a target or bullseye.

Priority populations

Early in the HIV epidemic – before the virus had been identified – HIV established itself in a small number of populations, which now have higher prevalence of HIV than others in the general population. Almost four decades later – despite the significant progress these populations have made at preventing and treating HIV – new HIV diagnoses in Ontario are still concentrated in five populations recognized by Ontario’s HIV Action Plan to 2030.

  • Two-spirit, gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, including trans men
  • African, Caribbean, and Black populations
  • Indigenous Peoples
  • People who use drugs1
  • Cis and trans women, including those from the communities above, who face systemic and social inequities, and are more likely to be exposed to HIV through a sexual or drug using partner.

Members of these populations also face stigma, discrimination and/or other barriers related to the social determinants of health, such as poverty, housing instability, intimate partner violence, and trauma associated with homophobia, racism and colonization, that may make them more vulnerable to HIV infection and affect their ability to access services. While most people diagnosed with HIV in Ontario are members of these populations, not everyone in these populations is at risk of HIV.

OHTN consults with members of each of these populations to understand community needs, and to identify relevant research priorities. OHTN conducts and funds research within each community to understand HIV risk for the population, to identify gaps in services and to develop and evaluate prevention, treatment and care services adapted to community needs.

Learn more by reading Ontario’s HIV Action Plan to 2030.

1. People who use drugs are at high risk of acquiring HIV if they share equipment to inject drugs; however, other (non-injecting) drug use – including the use of alcohol, cannabis and drugs like crystal methamphetamine to enhance sex – can also increase HIV risk by affecting judgement and disinhibiting behaviour. Alcohol and other substance use can result in more sexual risk taking and/or lower adherence to medications such as PrEP and antiretroviral therapy.

WordPress Image Lightbox Plugin