Adapting the Community Readiness Model (CRM) for HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Screening with Inuit Communities Developing Strategies for HIV Prevention with Community Input & Collaboration

Canadian Aboriginal people (First Nations, Inuit & Métis) are greatly affected by HIV/AIDS, comprising 12.5% of all new infections. This situation is worsened by poverty, inequality, racism, and historical events like residential schools, all of which are known to increase risk for HIV infection. For Inuit people living in Canada, this is especially important since not only do they have some of the highest rates of non-HIV sexually transmitted infections (STIs), but there is also very little Inuit based information that can help them prevent future HIV infections. Our team of Inuit community members/ organizations and, researchers aim to find a way that can help Inuit communities identify how ready (if at all) they are in dealing with HIV in their communities by using the Community Readiness Model (CRM). Our research project aims at adapting, piloting and using the CRM to identify how ready Inuit communities are with respect to dealing with HIV. We feel that this project can improve the health of Inuit communities by helping them identify if, when and how they can be ready and best prepared to participate in HIV education, prevention and screening to ensure that HIV infections are not a problem in their communities.