"Improving Treatment Access for Asian-Canadian PHAs" (ITAAP)

ITAAP is a research and community resource development project of the Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS), Toronto, Canada. Its purposes are to improve the access and adherence to HIV/AIDS Treatments for Asian Canadian PHAs by developing appropriate treatment information in their languages. The current target populations of the project include Canadians of Chinese, Filipino and Vietnamese origins. ACAS gratefully acknowledges the funding support from the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN) and the AIDS Community Action Program (ACAP), Ontario Region, of Health Canada.

ITAAP was developed in response to the barriers faced by Asian Canadian PHAs in accessing HIV/AIDS treatment information. These barriers are well documented in the findings of our 1999 research: "legal, ethical and human rights issues facing East & Southeast Asian Canadians in accessing HIV/AIDS services in Canada" as well as from service experiences with Asian PHAs. Lack of HIV/AIDS treatment information in Asian languages was identified to be a key barrier that affected Asian PHAs' decision to get tested, to start treatment, to deal with side effects and to adhere to treatments. There is also evidence that a high proportion of Asian Canadian PHAs get diagnosed late, do not access treatment until they are diagnosed with AIDS complications, and therefore suffering more tragic health outcomes.

The project includes three major components: review of existing needs and resources; PHA needs assessment and resource development. A literature review was conducted in 1999 through internet, agency liaison and survey to study the existing resources available in Asian languages and the gaps in HIV treatment information. An Asian PHA interview/survey was then conducted to identify the information needs, the preferred format of accessing information for Asian PHAs as well as factors affecting their choice, usage and adherence to HIV/AIDS treatment. The information generated by the research was then used to guide the development of the informational resources developed to address the gaps identified.

Todate, we have developed 60 topics of treatment information in 4 different languages, English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Tagalog and Vietnamese. Our fact sheets have also been translated into French and incorporated into the website of the Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE). The topics are organized under six main categories: Drug Information, Health Concerns, Monitoring Tests, Nutrition, Women's Health and Complementary Therapies. It is our hope that the resources will continue to be expanded and updated.

The project is proud of the extensive leadership and participation of target group PHAs in the planning, research, resource development, focus testing, implementation and evaluation of all stages of the project. It is our hope the information will help bridge some of the gaps faced by our marginalized populations and facilitate further PHA empowerment in making educated choices to treatments and intervention.