Research summary
A global revolution in HIV prevention and treatment has transformed this once-lethal illness into a manageable, chronic disease—for those with access to care. But we have yet to witness corresponding progress in the social and structural determinants of health. Dr. Angela Kaida, Canada Research Chair in HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health Equity, is shedding light on how these inequities affect biologic markers of health in marginalized populations.
She and her research team are investigating how socio-structural determinants of health influence immune activation and inflammation among South African adolescents and youth at risk for HIV. They are also studying the effects of these influences on hormone dysregulation and other markers of sexual and reproductive health among cis and trans women living with HIV in Canada. Their aim is to uncover how sex and/or gender may shape health outcomes for people living with (or at risk for) HIV.