THE FACTS
There are between 19,000 – 21,000 people living with HIV in Ontario.
The number of people living with HIV in Ontario has increased over the past decade. This is the result of improved HIV treatment, extended life expectancy, migration of people into Ontario, as well as new diagnoses.
LIMITATIONS IN THE DATA
Data collected during HIV testing has historically excluded Trans and Non-Binary people. As such, those numbers are not reflected here; however, research has shown that Trans women, Non-Binary and gender-diverse people have been particularly impacted by HIV and data on Trans, Non-Binary, and gender-diverse people is beginning to become more inclusive since improved data collection began in 2018
'Woman' and 'Women'
People have different comfort levels with language and WHAI strives to find ways to be accessible and inclusive and to reflect the advancement of gender-inclusive language. People have different preferences, and these preferences can change depending on the context, situation, sense of safety, or personal identity. WHAI strives to be inclusive of all women, including Trans and cis women, people who are designated or assigned female at birth, people who are female-identified that are Trans or Non-Binary and people that are on the Transfeminine spectrum.
The terms “woman” and “women” are often used throughout our resources and website to encompass a wide range of identities, and in places we specify Trans or cis to help clarify or remind us of the importance of striving to build inclusivity. At times, the terms “female” and “male” are also used. This reflects how data is gathered in sources we are referencing, in cases where it is referencing sex rather than gender. Regardless of our comfort levels, for the safety of all women and in an effort to create accessible, respectful, and inclusive spaces, it is important to address people by whatever terms they identify with.
For more information on WHAI’s work toward Trans inclusion and gender-inclusive work, please see WHAI’s Trans Inclusion Pocket Guide at whai.ca. For helpful information on language and terminology, check out The 519’s Glossary of Terms at the519.org
If you have feedback about how we can improve the language and content on our website, please contact us. We're happy to hear your feedback.
NOTE:
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a 23% decrease in HIV testing which may have missed some new diagnoses that would have otherwise been reported. As a result, new 2020 data should be taken with caution. To learn more about how to interpret 2020 data, please visit OHESI's blogpost "Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on HIV Testing and Diagnoses in Ontario at ohesi.ca
Source link: https://www.ohesi.ca/a-snapshot-of-hiv-diagnoses-and-the-hiv-care-cascade-among-women-in-ontario/
Note about 2020 data...
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a 23% decrease in HIV testing which may have missed some new diagnoses that would have otherwise been reported. As a result, new 2020 data should be taken with caution.
To learn more about how to interpret 2020 data, please visit OHESI's blogpost "Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on HIV Testing and Diagnoses in Ontario".
NEW HIV DIAGNOSES & WOMEN IN ONTARIO
More than half
During 2019 in Ontario, African, Caribbean and Black (ACB) women made up almost 60% of new diagnoses among women, while they made up only 5% of women in Ontario.
OHESI: HIV Diagnoses in Ontario, 2019 (2021)opens in a new window
Of the first time HIV diagnoses among women in Ontario in 2020, 44% of them were among ACB women.
Of new HIV diagnoses among women in 2020 were Indigenous.
OHESI: Snapshot of HIV Diagnoses and the HIV Care Cascade Among Women in Ontario (2022) opens in a new window
Trans women are 10 times more likely to report having been diagnosed with HIV than Ontarians overall.
OHESI: HIV Diagnoses in Ontario, 2019 (2021) opens in a new window
Of new HIV diagnoses in 2019, 21% was attributed to injection drug use among females, while 9% was attributed to injection drug use among males.
OHESI: HIV Diagnoses in Ontario, 2019 (2021) opens in a new window
CENTERING WOMEN'S EXPERIENCES
"To be well, I need to interact with other people and women... socialize"
— Woman facing systemic risk, Southwest Ontario
Helpful Resources
Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
An executive summary report from the National Inquiry Into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
TransPULSE Resource Guide
The Trans PULSE Project’s Resource Guide for Trans people across Canada.
Women* & HIV in Ontario: An Introductory Toolkit
This toolkit has been updated (2022) and includes pull out sections on women & HIV in Ontario, populations of women disproportionately impacted, and strategies to build knowledge and capacity to support women in local communities. The tools include organizational and individual assessment tools, and an action planning for change tool, among others.