Saskatchewan

HOW DOES HIV AND AIDS AFFECT ABORIGINAL PEOPLES IN SASKATCHEWAN?

In general, according to the Saskatchewan HIV and AIDS, ANNUAL REPORT RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 30, 2013, Aboriginal people continue to be highly represented among the number of newly diagnosed HIV cases in the province. (1)
While the overall numbers have fallen for the province, the rates continue to remain high for Aboriginal people.
In 2012, Saskatchewan had the highest rate per thousand of new HIV diagnosis at 17.3/100,000 of all Canadian provinces. The average rate in Canada is 5.9. (2)
Aboriginal people living in Saskatchewan make up 13% of the First Nations population in Canada; and 12% of the Métis population live in Saskatchewan. (3)

A disproportionate number of HIV cases are reported among Aboriginal males and females in Saskatchewan

In 2012, 74% (131 cases) of all newly diagnosed HIV cases in the province self-reported Aboriginal ethnicity.
82% (58 of 71 cases) of females reported as having HIV in 2012 were Aboriginal, and 69% (73 of 106 cases) of males reported with HIV were Aboriginal males. (4)

HIV rates are high among Aboriginal youth, especially females, in Saskatchewan

All 8 of the HIV cases diagnosed in 2009 in the 15-19 age range were Aboriginal youth.
That same year, 92% (56 of 61) of reported HIV cases within the 20-29 age range were Aboriginal youth.
Of those Aboriginal youth, 57% (35 cases) were female. (6)

On average female cases of HIV are younger than male cases in Saskatchewan, especially among Aboriginal females

In 2009, the average age of Aboriginal female HIV cases was 29.4 years old with 38% of Aboriginal female cases being 25 years and younger.
Whereas, the average age of Aboriginal male cases was older than 36 years old, and only 14% (11 cases) of male Aboriginal HIV cases in 2009 were 25 years and younger.
And whereas, the average age of non-Aboriginal cases of HIV in Saskatchewan is 41.1 years old. (7)

More Aboriginals are reported as having injection drug use as a main method of HIV transmission compared to non-Aboriginals in Saskatchewan

In 2009, 154 of 200 reported HIV cases self-reported injection drug use.
Of these cases, 130 (84%) also self-identified as Aboriginal compared to 20 (13%) of non-Aboriginal ethnicity. (8)

The Aboriginal population is more vulnerable to contracting HIV and AIDS because of unique factors and social determinants of health

A person’s vulnerability [to HIV infection] increases or decreases based on:

income,
education,
unemployment,
access to stable housing,
early childhood development (e.g. history of child abuse),
physical environments (e.g. geographically isolated communities, prison environments),
access to health services,
support networks and social environments (e.g. homophobia, HIV/AIDS-related stigma and
discrimination),
gender,
a history of sexual violence, and,
for this [Aboriginal] population in particular, racism and the multigenerational effects of colonialism and the residential school system. (9)

(1) Public Health Agency of Canada, Population-Specific HIV/AIDS Status Report: Aboriginal Peoples, 2008 at 19, [PHAC].

(2) PHAC at 4 to 5.

(3) Saskatchewan Ministry of Health, Population Health Branch, HIV and AIDS in Saskatchewan: Annual Report, 2010 at 4.

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(9) PHAC at vii.