STBBI prevention and testing among Black Canadians

STBBI’s are Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infections, and include the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis B (HBV), which have claimed many lives globally They are a significant public health concern in Canada, however with treatment, most STBBIs can be cured and managed. To address the STBBI problem in Canada, The Public Health Agency of Canada released the Pan-Canadian Sexually Transmitted and Blood-borne Infections Framework for Action in 2018.

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Overview

STBBI’s are Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infections, and include the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Hepatitis B (HBV), which have claimed many lives globally They are a significant public health concern in Canada, however with treatment, most STBBIs can be cured and managed. To address the STBBI problem in Canada, The Public Health Agency of Canada released the Pan-Canadian Sexually Transmitted and Blood-borne Infections Framework for Action in 2018. This framework provided strategic goals and guiding principles to address STBBIs in Canada. Vulnerability to STBBIs is shaped by various social determinants of health, such as culture and race. According to epidemiological evidence, STBBIs affect certain populations disproportionately. Consequently, the goal of this project is to assess the level of awareness of STBBIs amongst Black Canadians and barriers to accessing knowledge around STBBI preventative measures and testing. The project aims to generate new knowledge about improving awareness of preventive measures and testing on STBBIs among Black communities in Canada. Given the lack of data on the barriers to mobilizing knowledge around STBBIs in Black communities, essential for developing prevention behaviors and improving access to care and treatment services, this project will address this information gap to enhance awareness of STBBIs among Black communities across Canada. The project will enable the Global Health & Innovation Lab to examine the barriers to accessing knowledge around preventative measures and testing for STBBIs, which will support the effective development of awareness workshops on STBBIs for the Black community.

Importance

This project targets the Black communities in Canada, intending to assess the level of awareness about STBBIs and the barriers to accessing knowledge concerning STBBI preventative measures and testing. There is a noticeable lack of data concerning these barriers, which are critical for cultivating preventive behaviors and enhancing access to care and treatment services. By addressing this gap, the lab aims to improve the awareness of STBBIs within the Black communities of Canada.

 Research Question

  • What are the barriers and facilitators to knowledge about prevention and testing for STBBIs among Black populations living in Canada?

Implications

The project’s findings will inform the development of effective awareness workshops on STBBIs for the Black community, ultimately promoting preventative behaviors and improved access to treatment services.

 Related Publications/Protocols

Team

Funders: SSHRC

Research Trainees: Beth Girmay, Sasha Strong

Partners: Federation of Black Canadians