This Fact Sheet explores issues surrounding HIV/AIDS and Immigrants to Canada, including Demographics, HIV and Immigration, Health Coverage, Perception of HIV Risk, Cultural and Linguistic Barriers, Discussion of Sexuality, Gender Norms, and the Effectiveness of Immigrant-Targeted HIV Education. Fact Sheet #27 is one of an on-going series. Visit the catalogue of Briefing Documents and Fact Sheets. Go to the related Briefing Document. The Fact Sheets are created by AIDS Calgary Awareness Association |
HIV and Immigrants For immigrants entering Canada, language barriers, cultural differences, lack of information on available services, gender issues, and low income level create barriers to information relating to HIV and AIDS. |
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Calgary Immigrant Demographics As of 1996, 21.7% of Calgary residents had immigrated to Canada and 4.3% of Calgary residents could be considered "newcomers". In 1998, 11.9% of Calgary immigrants came from China, 11.3% from India, and 8.1% from the Philippines. One hundred thirty eight countries were represented among immigrants to Calgary in 1998. Also in 1998, 46.3% of immigrants to Calgary indicated on arrival that they could not communicate in English or French. Over forty percent of immigrants were between the ages of 25 and 39 - an age bracket with a 55% (men) to 70% (women) rate of positive HIV tests.
HIV: An Issue for Immigration? In 1991, 40 states had introduced laws excluding HIV positive immigration applicants, a number which had risen to 88 states by 1997. Immigration into Canada for an HIV positive person is determined on a case-by-case basis. A potential immigrant to Canada is given a medical examination - including an HIV test - and the results are examined along with other factors such as sponsorship and economic status. To pass the medical exam the applicant must not have a condition which "is a danger to public health or safety or would cause excessive demand on health or social services in Canada".
Health Coverage for Non-Permanent Residents Alberta Health Care coverage is required to obtain medical attention and HIV medications from the Southern Alberta Clinic in Calgary. Coverage is available to landed immigrants, convention refugees, and individuals on employment or student visas whose stay is 12 months or longer.
Perception of Risk Immigrant communities - just as non-immigrant communities - often do not acknowledge their levels of risk for HIV. Ethnoculturally, linguistically, appropriate, gender and marital specific HIV awareness and prevention programming would help to provide HIV information more specific to cultural contexts, thus increasing the likelihood that risk perception would become more realistic.
Cultural and Linguistic Barriers Linguistic barriers can lead to difficulties with diagnoses, lack of compliance, lack of disease prevention and health promotion, patient isolation, and extreme difficulties with mental health issues and psychotherapy. Cultural differences included varied perceptions of personal health needs, disease causation, health maintenance, taboo topics, gender roles, and other social patterns.
Discussing Sexuality Ethnicity and cross-cultural issues impact on attitudes towards sexuality and thus, on HIV prevention and transmission. The timing, source, and content of learned information about sex varies among the communities, with the most marked differences being observed among recent immigrants. The importance of informal sources (peers, older adults, media) and the weakness of formal sources (parents, school) make approaches utilising peers and culturally appropriate media the most effective in promoting learning and discussion about sexual health.
Gender Issues Among Immigrants Differences in gender roles vary more markedly outside than within North America and Europe. Thus, immigrants arriving in Canada will likely encounter gender-related norms dissimilar to those which exist in their country of origin. Women are particularly affected by such gender role differentiation, as they tend to hold less social power than men. This is cause for concern with regard to HIV transmission, as women are not able to take a pro-active role in prevention.
Effectiveness of HIV Programming Designed by Immigrant Groups Though innumerable cultural differences must be taken into account, awareness of HIV increases when immigrant populations are involved in developing training workshops. Workshops developed by and for immigrants have been proven effective in increasing HIV and AIDS knowledge, proper condom use, and intention to practice safer sex. Training should be conducted using standardized HIV prevention curriculum adapted for particular communities. |
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