Watch, listen and read: FIFSW faculty offer a wealth of resources for those interested in learning more on World AIDS Day about the fight against HIV

December 1st is World AIDS Day — a day for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, and to show support for those living with HIV, those at risk for HIV and those who work on the frontlines to address the pandemic’s inequitable impact. 

The University of Toronto is a leader in HIV research. The Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, in particular, boasts an impressive wealth of knowledge and expertise in this area, with over 30 articles published in peer-reviewed journals this past year alone. Indeed, given the inequalities that drive the spread of HIV, social work research is key to meeting the United Nation’s goal of ending AIDS worldwide by 2030. A new UNAIDS report, Dangerous Inequalities, shows that urgent action to tackle inequalities can get the AIDS response on track.

Below is a list of resources from FIFSW researchers for those interested in learning more.

Watch Professor Peter A. Newman’s Social Sciences Keynote from the 31st Annual Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS

On April 29th, 2022  Professor Peter A. Newman presented the Social Sciences Keynote at the 31st Annual Canadian Conference on HIV/AIDS Research (CAHR 2022). His lecture “Intersecting Pandemics and a Tale of Two Vaccines: From Technocratic Reductionism to a Biosocial Approach” is now available on CAHR’s YouTube page and we have embedded it above.  

There is a need for a seismic shift in approaches to HIV and thinking about HIV, says Newman in his keynote address. He argues that our current approach valorizes biomedicine, with social sciences always playing some sort of background and contextual role. We need to turn that paradigm upside down, he says, because all biomedicine and disease is mediated through social, cultural, historical and structural factors. 

A key contributor to the wealth of HIV expertise at FIFSW, Professor Newman’s extensive collaborative research includes community-based and national AIDS organizations, United Nations agencies, students, trainees, FIFSW faculty and researchers across Asia. Recent publications (see below) focus on Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, and embody the biosocial approach described in his CAHR talk. 

Listen to Professor Carmen Logies interview with Professor David Brennan on HIV stigma

In the spring of 2022, Professor Carmen Logie interviewed Professor David Brennan, Associate Dean, Research at FIFSW, on her popular podcast Everybody Hates Me: Let’s Talk About Sitgma. Brennan spoke about the history of HIV stigma and stigma towards gay, bisexual, two-spirit, cis- and trans-gender men who have sex with other men (GB2M). Brennan has been directly involved in the HIV epidemic since 1983 in many social work roles, including case manager, clinical supervisor, psychotherapist, program manager, and researcher. 

More episodes from Logie’s podcast can be found here.

Check out our Q & A with Logie on HIV prevention, stigma and care among refugee and displaced youth.

Read journal articles on HIV studies by FIFSW researchers

The following articles were published between December 1 , 2021 and November 30, 2022. The names of FIFSW faculty members have been bolded.

Brennan, D.J., Collict, D., Bekele, T. (2022, April 27-29). Comfort Discussing Sex with Healthcare Providers, Risky Condomless Anal Sex, and HIV Testing Engagement Among Gay, Bisexual, Two-Spirit and Other Men who have Sex with Men. Canadian Association for HIV Research for HIV Research (CAHR) Conference 2022, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-13229-2 

Brennan, D.J., Armstrong, J., Kesler, M., Bekele, T., Lachowsky, N.J., Grace, D.,  Hart, T.A., Souleymanov, R., and Adam, B.D. Willingness and eligibility to donate blood under 12-  month and 3-month deferral policies among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex    with men in Ontario, Canada. [Manuscript submitted for publication]. 

Brennan, D.J.; Charest, M.; Turpin, A.; Griffiths, D.; Adam, B.D.; Maxwell, J.; McCrady, K.; & Ahmed, R. (2022). “It’s a win for the clinic, it’s a win for the frontline, but, most importantly, it’s a win for the client”: Task Shifting HIV Prevention Services from Clinicians to Community Health Workers in Ontario, Canada. Sexuality Research and Social Policy. DOI: 10.1007/s13178-022-00721-y 

Carter, A.; Gormley, B.; Muchenje, M.; Zhu, D.; Patterson, S.; Kestler, M.; Hankins, C.; Logie, C.H.; Brotto, L.A.; Tharao, W.; Lee, M.; Li, J.; Ding, E.; de Pokomandy, A.; Loutfy, M.; & Kaida, A. (2022). Prevalence and correlates of sexual concerns and associated distress among women living with HIV in Canada. Women’s Health, 18. DOI: 10.1177/17455065221074877

Chakrapani, V., Kaur, M., Tsai, A. C., Newman, P. A., & Kumar, R. (2022). The impact of a syndemic theory-based intervention on HIV transmission risk behaviour among men who have sex with men in India: Findings from a pretest-posttest non-equivalent comparison group trial. Social Science & Medicine, 295(2), 112817.

Chakrapani, V., Lakshmi, P. V. M., Newman, P. A., Kaur, J., Tsai, A. C., Vijin, P. P., et al. (2022). Syndemic violence victimization, alcohol and drug use, and HIV transmission risk behavior among transgender women in India: A cross-sectional, population-based study. PLOS Global Public Health, 2(10), e0000437. 

Chakrapani, V., Newman, P. A., Sebastian, A., Rawat, S., Mittal, S., Gupta, V., & Kaur, M. (2022). Mental health, economic well-being and health care access amid the COVID- 19 pandemic: A mixed methods study among urban men who have sex with men in India. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters. In press

Chuang, D-M., Newman, P. A., Fang, L., & Lai, M-C. (2022). Familism and HIV risk among men who have sex with men in Taiwan: The mediating roles of stressful life events and coping strategies. AIDS Education and Prevention, 34(1), 1-6. 

Dale, S.K.; Ayala, G.; Logie, C.H.; & Bowleg, L. (2022). Addressing HIV-Related Intersectional Stigma and Discrimination to Improve Public Health Outcomes: An AJPH Supplement. American Journal of Public Health, 112, S335-S337. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2022.306738 

Embleton, L.; Logie, C.H.; Ngure, K.; Nelson, L.; Kimbo, L.; Ayuku, D.; Turan, J.M.; & Braitstein, P. (2022). Intersectional Stigma and Implementation of HIV Prevention and Treatment Services for Adolescents Living with and at Risk for HIV: Opportunities for Improvement in the HIV Continuum in Sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS and Behavior. DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03793-4 

Epstein, A.; Nagata, J.M.; Ganson, K.T.; Nash, D.; Saberi, P.; Tsai, A.C.; Charlebois, E.D.; & Weiser, S.D. (2022). Drought, HIV Testing, and HIV Transmission Risk Behaviors: A Population-Based Study in 10 High HIV Prevalence Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS and Behavior. DOI: 10.1007/s10461-022-03820-4 

Fongkaew, K., de Lind van Wijngaarden, J. W., Tepjan, S., Chonwanarat, N., Akkakanjanasupar, P., & Newman, P. A. (2022). ‘No test, no disease’: Multilevel barriers to HIV testing among young men who have sex with men and young transgender women in three semiurban areas in Thailand. Culture, Health & Sexuality, 24(9), 1199-1214. 

Kaida, A.; Cameron, B.; Conway, T.; Cotnam, J.; Danforth, J.; de Pokomandy, A.; Gagnier, B.; Godoy, S.; Gormley, R.; Greene, S.; Habanyama, M.; Kazemi, M.; Logie, C.H.; Loutfy, M.; MacGillivray, J.; Masching, R.; Money, D.; Nicholson, V.; Osborne, Z.; Pick, N.; Sanchez, M.; Tharao, W.;  Watt, S.; & Narasimhan, M. (2022). Key recommendations for developing a national action plan to advance the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women living with HIV in Canada. Women’s Health, 18. DOI: 10.1177/17455057221090829 

Logie, C.H.; Okumu, M.; Latif, M.; Parker, S.; Hakiza, R.; Musoke, D.K.; Mwima, S.; Batte, S.; & Kyambadde, P. (2022). Relational Factors and HIV Testing Practices: Qualitative Insights from Urban Refugee Youth in Kampala, Uganda. AIDS and Behavior. EARLY ACCESS JAN 2022. DOI: 10.1007/s10461-021-03567-4 

Logie, C.H.; Coelho, M.; Kohrt, B.; Tsai, A.C.; & Mendenhall, E. (2022). Context, COVID-19 and comorbidities: exploring emergent directions in syndemics and HIV research. Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS, 17(2), 46-54. DOI: 10.1097/COH.0000000000000722 

Logie, C.H.; Sokolovic, N.; Kazemi, M.; Smith, S.; Islam, S.; Lee, M.; Gormley, R.; Kaida, A.; de Pokomandy, A.; & Loutfy, M. (2022). Recent sex work and associations with psychosocial outcomes among women living with HIV: findings from a longitudinal Canadian cohort study. Journal of the International AIDS Society, 25(3). DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25874 

Logie, C.H.; Kinitz, D.J.; Gittings, L.; Persad, Y.; Lacombe-Duncan, A.; & Poteat, T. (2022). Eliciting critical hope in community-based HIV research with transgender women in Toronto, Canada: methodological insights. Health Promotion International. EARLY ACCESS FEB 2022. DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daac017 

Logie, C.H.; Okumu, M.; Malama, K.; Mwima, S.; Hakiza, R.; Kiera, U.M.; & Kyambadde, P. (2022). Examining the substance use, violence, and HIV and AIDS (SAVA) syndemic among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda: cross-sectional survey findings. BMJ Global Health, 7. DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006583 

Logie, C.H.; Sokolovic, N.; Kazemi, M.; Islam, S.; Frank, P.; Gormley, R.; Kaida, A.; de Pokomandy, A.; & Loutfy, M. (2022). Does resource insecurity drive HIV-related stigma? Associations between food and housing insecurity with HIV-related stigma in cohort of women living with HIV in Canada. Journal of the International AIDS Society, 25. DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25913 

Lys, C.; Logie, C.H.; Mackay, K.I.; MacNeill, N.; Loppie, C.; Gittings, L.; & Yasseen, A. (2022). Exploring uptake of HIV/STI knowledge and safer sex-efficacy in an arts-based sexual health workshop among Northern and Indigenous adolescents in the Northwest Territories, Canada. AIDS Care – Psychological and Socio-medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV. EARLY ACCESS JUN 2022. DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2022.2089617 

Malama, K.; Logie, C.H.; Narasimhan, M.; Ouedraogo, L.; Asmani, C.; Elamin, H.; van de Merwe, L.L.A.; Hopkins, J.; & Bukusi, E.A. (2022). Awareness of HIV Self-Care Interventions Across Global Regions: Results from a Values and Preferences Survey. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses. EARLY ACCESS JUN 2022. DOI: 10.1089/aid.2021.0200 

Newman, P.A.; Akkakanjanasupar, P.; Tepjan, S.; Boborakhimov, S.; van Wijngaarden, J.W.D.; & Chonwanarat, N. (2022). Peer education interventions for HIV prevention and sexual health with young people in Mekong Region countries: a scoping review and conceptual framework. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, 30 (1). DOI: 10.1080/26410397.2022.2129374 

Newman, P. A., Akkakanjanasupar, P., Tepjan, S., Boborakhimov, S., de Lind van Wijngaarden, J. W., & Chonwanarat, N. (2022). Peer education interventions for HIV prevention and sexual health with young people in Mekhong Region countries: A scoping review and conceptual framework. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, 30(1), 2129374. 

Newman, P. A., Chakrapani, V., Williams, C. C., Massaquoi, N., Tepjan, S., Roungprakhon, S., et al., (2021). An eHealth intervention for promoting COVID-19 knowledge and protective behaviors and reducing pandemic distress among sexual and gender minorities: Protocol for randomized controlled trial (#SafeHandsSafeHearts). JMIR Research Protocols, 10(12), e34381. 

Newman, P. A., Prabhu, S. M., Akkakanjanasupar, P., & Tepjan, S. (2022). HIV and mental health among young people in low-resource contexts in Southeast Asia: A qualitative investigation. Global Public Health, 17(7), 1200–1214.  

O’Leary, W.; Brennan, D.J.; Ashcroft, R.; Carusone, S.C.; Guta, A.; & Strike, C. (2022). A structuration theory guided analysis of the hospitalization experience for people living with HIV who use drugs: My rules and their rules. International Journal of Drug Policy, 106. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103743 

Pala, A.N.; Kempf, M.C.; Konkle-Parker, D.; Wilson, T.E.; Tien, P.C.; Wingood, G.; Neilands, T.B.; Johnson, M.O.; Weiser, S.D.; Logie, C.H.; Turan, J.M.; & Turan, B. (2022). Intersectional stigmas are associated with lower viral suppression rates and antiretroviral therapy adherence among women living with HIV. AIDS, 36 (13), 1769-1776. DOI: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000003342 

Small, E.; Nikolova, S.P.; Childress, S.; & Logie, C. (2022). The role of education and income as protective factors against intimate partner violence and HIV exposure among Kenyan women. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education. EARLY ACCESS MAY 2022. DOI: 10.1080/09518398.2022.2035450 

Stackpool-Moore, L.; Logie, C.H.; Cloete, A.; & Reygan, F. (2022). What will it take to get to the heart of stigma in the context of HIV?. Journal of the International AIDS Society, 25 (1). DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25934 

Stangl, A.L.; Atkins, K.; Leddy, A.M.; Sievwright, K.M.; Sevelius, J.M.; Lippman, S.A.; Veras, M.A.; Zamudio-Haas, S.; Smith, M.K.; Pachankis, J.E.; Logie, C.H.; Rao, D.; Weiser, S.; & Nyblade, L.  (2022). What Do We Know About Interventions to Reduce Intersectional Stigma and Discrimination in the Context of HIV? A Systematic Review. Stigma and Health. EARLY ACCESS OCT 2022. DOI: 10.1037/sah0000414 

Turpin, A., Brennan, D.J., Charest, M., Griffiths, D. (2022) Exploring Inter- and Intra- Organizational Dynamics Supporting Task-shifting Opportunities in Community-based AIDS Service Organizations. Health & Social Care in the Community, 00, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13879