Mapping Contextual Drivers of HIV Vulnerability: A Qualitative Study of African, Caribbean, Black Youth in Windsor, Canada

Background: Based on POWER study: Promoting and owning empowerment and resilience among African, Caribbean, and Black Canadian (ACB) youth, this paper explored the contextual factors that expose ACB youth to HIV infection. Method: We conducted six focused community-mapping sessions with 43 purposively drawn ACB youth living in Windsor, Canada. Based on socio-environmental approach, we investigated a number of issues including, where to find ACB people, places afraid to go, places to find casual partners, where they spend leisure time, healthy and unhealthy places. Results: The findings showed that ACB population mainly resides in poor areas, with close proximity to bars, strip shops, recreational/sports places. And, multifaceted factors, such as economic deprivation, marginalization, discrimination, and substance use provided an enabling environment for ACB youth exposure to HIV/AIDS. Conclusion: Future HIV/AIDS prevention must be locality specific and culturally sensitive, by taking into account individual, structural, environmental and socio-cultural factors in future HIV prevention strategies.