Background
There is a clear and long overdue need for research that acknowledges and addresses the gendered barriers to HIV treatment and care for Canadian women.
After more than two packed years of preparation and development, CHIWOS was officially launched on October 1st, 2013, at the start of Women’s Health Awareness month.
CHIWOS aims to create new knowledge to support women living with HIV achieve optimal health and wellbeing through women-centred, community-based research and action. More information about the study can be found in our February 2013 blog post.
What’s happening in CHIWOS?
We hired an incredible team of 34 Peer Research Associates (PRAs) from across Canada. Our PRAs have undergone intensive research and interview training, and have now begun administering the CHIWOS survey.
In BC, our team of seven skilled and committed PRAs is conducting interviews at the following clinics, AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs), and community-based organizations who have partnered with CHIWOS to provide interview space:
- AIDS Vancouver Island
- Cool Aid Community Health Centre
- Downtown Community Health Clinic
- Healing Our Spirit BC Aboriginal HIV/AIDS Society
- Heart of Richmond HIV/AIDS Society
- Keys Housing Solutions (Positive Haven)
- Living Positive Resource Centre
- Oak Tree Clinic
- Positive Women’s Network
- Positive Living North
- Vancouver Island Persons with AIDS Society
Success to-date
Before the survey launch, we asked for support from our Community Advisory Board, Steering Committee, co-investigator team, community partners, PRAs, and our social media networks to let women know that CHIWOS was ready to recruit participants. Since then, the response has been absolutely electric! Our phones and inboxes have been filled with messages from women who are eager to contribute their voices to the study.
In just over one month, we have completed over 75 of the target 350 interviews in BC, far more than we had anticipated. On behalf of the CHIWOS team, we are honoured to be working together on this important study and look forward to sharing preliminary findings during our next program update.
For more information or to participate
Please contact a Study Coordinator in your region or connect with us online:
- BC: Allison Carter, 604-806-8615 or 1-855-506-8615 (Toll-free)
- ON: Jamie Thomas-Pavanel, 416-351-3800 ext: 2323
- QC: Karène Proulx-Boucher, 514-934-1934 ext: 32146
Visit our website: www.chiwos.ca
Like us on facebook: CHIWOSresearch
Follow us on twitter: @CHIWOSresearch
Download our recruitment poster (below) for use in your clinic or office.
Acknowledgments
CHIWOS is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Gender and Health, CIHR Canadian HIV Trials Network (CTN 262) and the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN). CHIWOS is Canada’s largest multi-site, longitudinal, community-based research study focusing solely on women living with HIV.
