title: The experience of HIV diagnosis among Aboriginal people living with HIV/AIDS and depression.
abstract: In this article, we consider how the broad context of Aboriginal people's lives can shape their experience and understanding of their HIV diagnosis. We conducted interviews across Canada with 72 Aboriginal people living with HIV who also reported feelings of depression. Consistent with what has been found in previous studies, participants responded to their HIV diagnosis with shock, disbelief, and often anger. Prior depression, drug and alcohol use, multiple losses, stigma, and social isolation also shaped how participants experienced their diagnosis. We consider how the history of colonization of Aboriginal communities in Canada relates to the experience of HIV diagnosis, and end with a discussion of the service implications of our findings.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work (KTH-312), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. cainr@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cain
authors.forename: Randy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: Tracey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Prentice
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mill
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barlow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000523:psychology*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D004930:Inuit / Q000523:psychology*; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012752:Shame; D012934:Social Isolation; D057545:Social Stigma; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology