NLM logo

National Information Center on Health Services Research and Health Care Technology (NICHSR)

HSRProj (Health Services Research Projects in Progress)

Information about ongoing health services research and public health projects


Canadian HIV Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study: prioritizing the health needs of positive Aboriginal women (CHIWOS PAW)
Investigator (PI): Loutfy, Mona R; Becker, Marissa; Bourassa, Carrie A; Bruce, Sharon G; de Pokomandy, Alexandra
Performing Organization (PO): (Current): Women's College Hospital, Women's College Research Institute / (416) 351-3732
Supporting Agency (SA): Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
Initial Year: 2014
Final Year: 2017
Record Source/Award ID: CIHR/137892
Funding: Total Award Amount: $450,000
2015 Award Amount: $75,000
Award Type: Grant
Abstract: In Canada, Aboriginal women are overrepresented in the HIV epidemic. Almost 50% of HIV positive test reports among Aboriginal people are in women in contrast to 20% for non-Aboriginal women. We assume that unequal access and use of HIV, traditional, community-based and primary health care and support services has led to poor health outcomes for Aboriginal women living with HIV (Positive Aboriginal Women; PAW). The Canadian HIV Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study (CHIWOS) was developed to assess the use of women-focused HIV and primary, hepatitis C (HCV), and traditional health services use and the effect on health outcomes. CHIWOS investigators, PAW, and Aboriginal and allied HIV health researchers decided that a specific plan was needed to increase recruitment of PAW, and identify their health research priorities in a project entitled CHIWOS PAW. CHIWOS PAW will consist of a (1) formative phase and a (2) quantitative phase and will use community-based research principles and Indigenous methodologies. (1) The objectives of the formative phase are to a) conduct an environmental scan in each province (BC, SK, MB, ON, QC) to assess the HIV clinical, community-based, and other resources specifically available for PAW; and b) conduct sharing circles in each province with 6 to 30 PAW to determine their health priorities and their desire for and definition of women-focused HIV, primary, HCV, and traditional care. (2) The quantitative phase objectives are to determine the a) proportion, distribution, and patterns of use of women-focused HIV, primary, HCV, and traditional care among PAW living in BC, SK, MB, ON and QC; b) factors associated with uptake of care; and c) effect of care uptake on the overall, HIV, reproductive, sexual, and mental health outcomes.
MeSH Terms:
  • Canada
  • Cohort Studies
  • Community Health Services /organization & administration
  • Female
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Health Services Research
  • Hepatitis C /epidemiology
  • HIV Infections /*diagnosis
  • /*epidemiology /ethnology
  • Humans
  • Indians, North American
  • Medicine, Traditional
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Reproductive Health
Keywords:
  • Aboriginal women
  • HIV
  • community-based research
  • health services research
  • indigenous methodology
  • mental
  • reproductive
  • self-determination
  • sexual
  • traditional care
Country: Canada
State: Ontario
Zip Code: M5S 1B2
UI: 20162427
Project Status: Completed