"You need to know where we're coming from": Canadian Aboriginal women's perspectives on culturally appropriate HIV counseling and testing.
The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to determine Canadian Aboriginal women's perspectives on culturally appropriate HIV counseling and testing. Data were collected through semistructured individual interviews with 7 Aboriginal women, and one focus group, in a western Canadian city. Four major categories were elucidated through thematic content analysis: Aboriginal women's life experiences that may influence their risk of HIV infection and their response to testing; barriers to HIV testing; guiding principles of the ideal HIV testing situation; and characteristics of culturally appropriate HIV testing. The fear of being judged by both the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities and the need for sensitivity to the historical and current context of Aboriginal women's life experiences were pervasive themes throughout the findings.
Bucharski
Dawn
D
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Reutter
Linda I
LI
Ogilvie
Linda D
LD
D000328:Adult; D000416:Alberta; D044467:American Indian or Alaska Native / Q000523:psychology; D003376:Counseling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019037:Urban Health Services; D035862:Vulnerable Populations / Q000208:ethnology; D016387:Women's Health; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*