MANY VOICES - SOCIOCULTURAL RESULTS OF THE ETHNOCULTURAL COMMUNITIES FACING AIDS STUDY IN CANADA

This paper presents the results of Phase II of the Ethnocultural Commu nities Facing AIDS Study, the sociocultural investigation of factors c ontributing to risk behaviour associated with HIV/AIDS in six ethnocul tural communities in Canada in three urban sites. In Vancouver, the So uth Asian and Chinese communities were studied, the Horn of Africa and English-speaking Caribbean communities in Toronto and the Latin Ameri can and Arabic-speaking communities in Montreal. Results demonstrated that there are common elements across these ethnocultural communities that increase the risk for HN transmission. HIV/AIDS awareness and pre vention in ethnocultural communities must address sociocultural differ ences, particularly sex role differences between men and women in term s of power within relationships to negotiate for safer sexual practice s.