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Home : Infectious Diseases : HIV/AIDS : Reports and Publications : The Community at a Glance |
HIV/AIDS Epi NotesUnderstanding the HIV/AIDS Epidemic among Aboriginal Peoples in Canada: The Community at a Glance
Information Regarding the Epi NoteThis Epi Note is the product of collaboration between the Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division of the Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Public Health Agency of Canada, and the National Aboriginal Council on HIV/AIDS, whose members helped to select the content and design layout of this publication as well as to facilitate its review by community members. In this document, the HIV/AIDS epidemic among Aboriginal peoples has been compared to that among non-Aboriginal peoples. Comparing these two groups has helped researchers identify where the HIV/AIDS epidemic is the same and where it is different. Specifically, it helps to clarify the unique issues facing Aboriginal peoples. With greater understanding, individuals, Aboriginal leadership and agencies providing HIV/AIDS support services and prevention programs are better able to focus their attention and deal with current realities. The information in this Epi Note will help with advocacy efforts to develop and sustain culturally relevant prevention, education and support services for Aboriginal communities across Canada. Please be aware, however, that this Epi Note is not national in scope because two of the largest provinces in Canada do not report ethnicity information on HIV surveillance data to the Public Health Agency of Canada.1 It is also important to note that caution should be used when reviewing the percentages in this document. They can change considerably with the addition of one case, particularly when total numbers are small. Aboriginal peoples are overrepresented in the HIV epidemic in CanadaAIDS
HIV
Aboriginal peoples make up a growing percentage of positive HIV reports and reported AIDS casesFor cases and reports where information on ethnicity was provided: AIDS
HIV
Injecting drug use continues to be a key mode of HIV transmission in the Aboriginal communityFor cases and reports among Aboriginal peoples where exposure category was known: AIDS
HIV
Figure 1. Reported AIDS cases and positive HIV test reports by exposure
category: *For reported AIDS cases, includes data from 1979 to December 31, 2003. For positive HIV test reports, includes data from 1998 to December 31, 2003 and from provinces/territories with reported ethnicity (BC, YT, AB, NT, NU, SK, MB, NB, NS, PEI, NL). As Figure 1 indicates, there are notable differences between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples with respect to exposure category for both reported AIDS cases and positive HIV test reports. HIV/AIDS has a significant impact on Aboriginal womenFor cases and reports among Aboriginal peoples where gender was known: AIDS
HIV
In contrast to the non-Aboriginal population, females make up a comparatively larger part of Aboriginal HIV and AIDS cases (Figure 2). Figure 2. Reported AIDS cases and positive HIV test reports by percentage
of females: *For reported AIDS cases, includes data from 1979 to December 31, 2003. For positive HIV test reports, includes data from 1998 to December 31, 2003 and from provinces/territories with reported ethnicity (BC, YT, AB, NT, NU, SK, MB, NB, NS, PEI, NL). Aboriginal peoples are being infected with HIV at a younger age compared to Non-Aboriginal personsFor cases and reports among Aboriginal peoples where age group was known: AIDS
HIV
Table 1. Comparison of age at time of diagnosis of reported AIDS cases and at time of test for positive HIV test reports among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples*
Increasing Number of Aboriginal Peoples Living with HIV/AIDS and among New HIV InfectionsNew Infections (Incidence)
Living with HIV/AIDS (Prevalence)
SummaryThe HIV epidemic among Aboriginal peoples shows no signs of slowing down. Evidence suggests that injecting drug use is the most common mode of HIV transmission among Aboriginal peoples, Aboriginal women make up a large part of the HIV epidemic in their communities, and Aboriginal peoples are infected at a younger age than non-Aboriginal persons. This indicates the different characteristics of the HIV epidemic among Aboriginal peoples and emphasizes the complexity of Canada's HIV epidemic. More complete information on the pattern of HIV/AIDS in Canada and HIV testing among Aboriginal peoples are needed to guide prevention and control strategies. In addition, it is vital to conduct further research to increase our understanding of the specific impact of HIV on Aboriginal peoples. Glossary of TermsEthnicity:In reporting AIDS cases and positive HIV test reports in Canada, a person's ethnic group may be described. An ethnic group is a group of people who share a distinctive cultural and historical tradition, and is often associated with race or nationality. The optional categories for national HIV/AIDS reporting include Aboriginal (Inuit, Métis, Native Indian and Aboriginal Unspecified), Asian, Black, Latin American, South Asian/West Asian/Arab, White and other. When this information is provided, it is known as ethnicity reporting. NOTE: information on ethnicity is missing for some reported AIDS cases and positive HIV test reports. Exposure category:In HIV/AIDS surveillance, exposure category refers to the most likely way a person became infected with the HIV virus; that is, the most likely route through which HIV was transmitted to that person. Categories used in this document include men who have sex with men (MSM), injecting drug users (IDU), and those exposed through heterosexual contact (heterosexual transmission).
Estimate:Reported AIDS cases and positive HIV test reports relate only to HIV positive individuals who seek testing or medical care and whose positive HIV test was reported to public health authorities. Therefore, these cases and reports do not represent the total number of people who become infected with HIV each year (incidence) or the total number of people living with HIV infection (prevalence). To take this into account, these numbers are estimated using a variety of data sources using a combination of different methods.
AcknowledgementsNational-level HIV and AIDS surveillance is possible as a result of all provinces and territories participating in, and setting directions for, HIV and AIDS surveillance. The Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control acknowledges the provincial/territorial HIV/AIDS coordinators, public health units, laboratories, health care providers, and reporting physicians for sharing non-nominal, confidential data for national surveillance. Need more information?Further information on HIV/AIDS among Aboriginal peoples, including data from targeted studies and data specific to Canada's three Aboriginal communities, can be found in the Epi Update, HIV/AIDS Among Aboriginal Peoples in Canada: A Continuing Concern, May 2004. Information on frequently asked questions and terms can be found in either in Understanding HIV/AIDS Epidemiology: HIV/AIDS Surveillance Among Canada's Aboriginal Peoples, available through the Canadian Aboriginal AIDS Network or in A Guide to HIV/AIDS Epidemiological and Surveillance Terms, available through the Public Health Agency of Canada. For information on this document or related products, please contact: Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division
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Last Updated: 2005-03-17 | ![]() |