This study examined the prevalence and correlates associated with lifetime and recent violence among a sample of harder-to-reach human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive women living in British Columbia (BC), Canada. Interviewer-led surveys with 1000 participants gathered quantitative data on social, economic, and structural characteristics such as housing status, relationship status, family structure, history of drug use, and sexual behavior. Logistic regression analysis modeled associations between independent variables and experiences of violence at baseline. Cox regression analyses with time-dependent covariates determined correlates of lifetime and recent violence among HIV-positive women. Of the 249 women in the study, an overwhelming proportion of women (81%) reported experiences of violence in their lifetime. Among those, 22% reported recent experiences of violence, and 56% of the women reported more than five violent episodes in their lifetime. Lifetime violence was independently associated with HIV-related stigma (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.14-5.70), previous tobacco use (AOR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.10-7.07), ever having a drinking problem (AOR = 2.82, 95% CI = 1.28-6.23), and ever having received care for a mental health condition (AOR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.06-5.52). Recent violence was associated with the current illicit drug use (AOR = 2.60, 95% CI = 1.14-5.90), and currently residing in unstable housing (AOR = 2.75, 95% CI = 1.31-5.78). This study underscores the need to consider potential experiences of historical and current violence as part of comprehensive care for women living with HIV.

We examined incidence, prevalence, and correlates of HIV infection in Aboriginal peoples in Canada and found that among most risk groups both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal participants showed similar levels of HIV prevalence. Aboriginal peoples who use illicit drugs were found to have higher HIV incidence and prevalence when compared to their non-Aboriginal drug-using peers. Aboriginal street youth and female sex workers were also found to have higher HIV prevalence. Among Aboriginal populations, correlates of HIV-positive sero-status include syringe sharing and frequently injecting drugs, as well as geographic and social factors such as living in Vancouver or having a history of non-consensual sex. This study is relevant to Canada and elsewhere, as Indigenous populations are disproportionately represented in the HIV epidemic worldwide.

No abstract