The Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS in Aboriginal Communities: An Anthropological Perspective

Abstract

Historically, Aboriginal people have been dramatically affected by epidemics of infectious disease. Today, levels of morbidity and mortality from such illnesses are much higher than in the broader Canadian population. This paper presents an anthropological investigation into the factors which put Aboriginal people and their communities at risk for the AIDS epidemic, and explores some of the many approaches Aboriginal people have chosen to respond to this crisis.