title: Inequalities in determinants of health among Aboriginal and Caucasian persons living with HIV/AIDS in Ontario: results from the Positive Spaces, Healthy Places Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aboriginal Canadians (i.e., First Nations, Inuit and Métis) are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, and experience greater social and economic marginalization and poorer housing conditions. This study sought to understand the differences in the determinants of health and housing-related characteristics between samples of Aboriginal and Caucasian adults living with HIV/AIDS in Ontario.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed baseline demographic, socio-economic, health, and housing-related data from 521 individuals (79 Aboriginal and 442 Caucasian) living with HIV/AIDS and enrolled in the Positive Spaces, Healthy Places study. We compared the characteristics of Aboriginal and Caucasian participants to identify determinants of health and housing-related characteristics independently associated with Aboriginal ethnicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to Caucausian participants living with HIV, Aboriginal participants were more likely to be younger, female or transgender women, less educated, unemployed, and homeless or unstably housed. They were also more likely to have low incomes and to have experienced housing-related discrimination. In a multivariate model, gender, income, and experiences of homelessness were independently associated with Aboriginal ethnicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aboriginal individuals living with HIV/AIDS in our sample are coping with significantly worse social and economic conditions and are more likely to experience challenging housing situations than a comparison group of Caucasian individuals living with HIV/AIDS. To develop effective care, treatment and support strategies for Aboriginal peoples with HIV, it is critical to address and improve their socio-economic and housing conditions.
authors.affiliation: Ontario Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Strategy, Toronto, ON.
authors.forename: Laverne E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Monette
authors.forename: Sean B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Rourke
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: Tsegaye M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Bekele
authors.forename: Ruthann
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Saara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sobota
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koornstra
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Byers
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bacon
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.forename: Stephen W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Amrita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahluwalia
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guenter
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hambly
authors.forename: Shafi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhuiyan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044467:American Indian or Alaska Native; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D044465:White People