Abstract

A review of statistics on HIV infection in Canada shows that the rates of HIV infection are on the rise among immigrants. Like other newcomers in Canada, immigrants living with or affected by HIV/AIDS seek services from various agencies serving immigrants. The purpose of this study is to identify and highlight barriers experienced by service providers when dealing with immigrants and particularly immigrant women who are living with HIV/AIDS. Some of the barriers they experienced include stigma, denial, fear, and discrimination, as well as socio-cultural and religious beliefs, economic and structural factors like immigration status, racism, marginalization and language.

Highlights

  • This study focuses on perspectives of service providers dealing with persons living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs) regarding these barriers experienced by immigrant women

  • This study sought to establish barriers experienced by service providers while serving immigrant women living with HIV/AIDS

  • This study found that barriers experienced by service providers were similar and dissimilar compared to the barriers experienced by immigrant women who are PHAs while seeking and accessing services from AIDS Services Organization (ASO)

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Summary

Introduction

This study focuses on perspectives of service providers dealing with persons living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs) regarding these barriers experienced by immigrant women. A twopronged approach was developed – the first was a review of literature to highlight barriers identified in other studies and suggested solutions. These barriers include stigma, denial, fear, and discrimination, as well as socio-cultural, economic and structural factors like immigration status, racism, marginalization and language. The second approach involved a qualitative study involving key informants; workers from agencies providing services to people living with HIV/AIDS in the Greater Toronto area and one second tier city outside Toronto. The conclusion identifies areas that need further research and suggest ways in which service providers can be better accessible to their clients – immigrants and immigrant women living with HIV/AIDS. There is a systemic gap in data collection in research which may cause barriers for HIV positive immigrant women who may need to access ethno-specific services (Remis, 2003)

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