African, Caribbean and Black communities in Ontario are disproportionately affected by HIV. Although these communities make up less than 5 percent of Ontario’s population, they accounted for 25% of all new HIV diagnoses in 2015. HIV risk is associated with migration from areas where HIV is more prevalent, but it is also influenced by social drivers of health. Research shows that social drivers are intersectional, so that people facing multiple barriers, such as black gay men, are at particular risk. Factors such as anti-black racism, economic exclusion, stigma and criminalization also negatively affect care and treatment outcomes.

Ontario’s HIV/AIDS Strategy aims to improve the health and well-being of African, Caribbean and Black communities in Ontario, to better support individuals living with HIV within these communities, and to reduce new HIV and Hepatitis C infections. Research is a tool to achieve these goals. Researchers in Ontario are working to develop programs and services that better respond to the prevention and care needs of individuals within these communities, and that address stigma and inequity.

Key Facts and Research Findings

• Intervention targeting Black MSM reported reduced unprotected anal intercourse, increased condom use, reduced number of partners, and increased testing
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Men who Have Sex with Men
• Study finds that black gay/bisexual men with HIV were more likely than white gay/bisexual men with HIV to abstain from sex
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities
• 51% of Ontario women diagnosed with HIV in 2014 and 2015 were from African, Caribbean and Black communities (page 14)
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Women*
• African, Carribean and Black people in Canada account for 14% of HIV infections
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities
• Study of HIV service providers for African, Caribbean and Black community members in Toronto reports poor geographical distribution of services
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities

Related Studies

• The Black PRAISE Study
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Current Studies, Stigma
• University of Toronto HIV Clinical Prevention Research Unit
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Current Studies, Men who Have Sex with Men, OHTN, Prevention, Research Pages
• Pilot Test of the WILLOW Intervention
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Current Studies, OHTN, Prevention, Research Pages, Women*
• Improving Maternal and Neonatal Care for Women with HIV
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Care, Completed Studies, OHTN, Research Pages, Women*
• The Positive Parenting Pilot Project
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Criminal Justice, Current Studies, Engagement, Indigenous Peoples, OHTN, Research Pages, Stigma, Women*
• HIV Care for Immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Care, Current Studies, Mental Health, OHTN, Other Comorbidities, Research Pages
• Understanding HIV transmission among persons from Africa and the Caribbean following their arrival in Canada
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Current Studies, OHTN, Prevention, Research Pages
• A/C Track Toronto
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Current Studies, Engagement, OHTN, Research Pages
• weSpeak: Reducing HIV vulnerabilities and promoting resilience among self-identified heterosexual African, Caribbean and Black Men in Ontario
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Community Engagement in Research, Current Studies, OHTN, Prevention, Research Pages

Related Researchers

• Tony Antoniou
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Care, Criminal Justice, OHTN, Other Comorbidities, people, Research Pages, Women*
• LaRon E. Nelson
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Engagement, OHTN, people, Prevention, Research Pages
• Winston Husbands
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Community Engagement in Research, OHTN, people, Prevention, Research Pages, Stigma
• Josephine Pui-Hing Wong
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Community Engagement in Research, OHTN, people, Prevention, Research Pages, Stigma
• Alan Li
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Community Engagement in Research, Engagement, Men who Have Sex with Men, Mental Health, OHTN, People Living with HIV, Prevention, Research Pages, Stigma
• Rupert Kaul
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Care, Co-infections, OHTN, Other Comorbidities, people, People Living with HIV, Prevention

OHTN Resources

• Testing interventions for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among young men who have sex with men
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Engagement, Interventions Across the Cascade, Men who Have Sex with Men, News, News, People Living with HIV, Prevention, Rapid Responses, Slider, Testing, Uncategorized
• A cross-jurisdictional review of HIV testing intervals for population groups at high risk of HIV infection
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Care, Engagement, Indigenous Peoples, Men who Have Sex with Men, Prevention, Priority Populations, Rapid Responses, Slider, Uncategorized, Women*
• 2015 HIV and Housing Summit Report
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Care, Criminal Justice, Employment, Engagement, Food Security, Housing, Indigenous Peoples, Intimate Partner Violence, Men who Have Sex with Men, People Living with HIV, Prevention, Reports, Women*
• Community-based interventions to increase HIV testing among Black women
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Engagement, Rapid Responses, Women*
• Impact of community-based organizations for people living with HIV
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Care, Men who Have Sex with Men, News, OHTN, Prevention, Rapid Responses
• Effective HIV prevention, education and outreach activities in African, Caribbean and Black communities
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Co-infections, People who use Drugs, Prevention, Rapid Responses, Women*
• Gender and ethnicity differences in HIV – related stigma experienced by people living with HIV in Ontario, Canada (PDF)
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Fact Sheet, Indigenous Peoples, Stigma, Women*
• Intersectionality in HIV and other health-related research
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Men who Have Sex with Men, Rapid Responses, Stigma
• Depressive symptoms, stress and resources among adult immigrants living with HIV (PDF)
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Fact Sheet, Men who Have Sex with Men, Mental Health, Stigma, Women*
• Complementary, alternative and traditional medicine in HIV care
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities, Care, Rapid Responses

Other Resources

• World Pride: Sex, Drugs and Alcohol Study: Summary for those who identify as African, Caribbean or Black
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities
• En Avant: Implementing an Impact -Focused HIV/AIDS Research Strategy for African, Caribbean and Black Communities in Ontario
  Filed under: African, Caribbean and Black Communities

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