ASAAP’s prevention programs aim to reduce the risk of HIV among our communities through education, outreach and health promotion. We run prevention programs for newcomer and settled South Asian women, youth and GBTQ identified men.

Women and Youth

Women represent an increasing proportion of HIV positive test results.  In 2008, women accounted for 26.2% of people who tested positive for HIV. Women are at risk for many reasons, some are biological and others social such as gender inequities that leave women with little or no sexual decision making power.

Youth between the ages of 15-29 years account for 26.5% of all positive test results. In 2008, the number of HIV positive test reports among females was highest in the 15-29 year age group. Differences in the consistency and quality of sexual education between provinces, regions and schools, create significant knowledge gaps among young people on how to protect against HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections

What ASAAP offers:

• HIV and sexual health workshops to South Asian women and youth
• Interactive, tailored and culturally appropriate workshops
• Conversation circles and informal discussions to put people at ease with difficult topics
• A resource website called BrownKiss for South Asian youth to access information and ask questions anonymously
• Outreach at community events and festivals to make HIV visible and create an environment where people can feel comfortable accessing service when they need to
• Media engagement to promote health and challenge stigma
• Multilingual resources to get information to communities in their own langauge
• Free condoms and lubricant

GBTQ men

While HIV doesn’t only affect gay men, men who have sex with other men remain the most affected by the epidemic. In 2008, men who have sex with men accounted for the largest proportion of positive HIV test reports among adults, representing 45.1% of positive tests reports.

The reasons behind why men account for a majority of new HIV infections are complex – ranging from the heightened vulnerability of unprotected anal intercourse, to the combined social influences of homophobia, isolation, familial rejection, etc. – all factors that can result in vulnerable and compromised sexual choices.

What ASAAP offers:

• Anti-homophobia and HIV prevention workshops
• South Asian and Tamil specific peer support groups for men looking for community, belonging and information
• Online resources through websites, Dosti and Snehithan (Friendship in Hindi and Tamil)
• Outreach and free condoms and lubricant at bathhouses, bars and event spaces
• Multilingual resources to get information to communities in their own langauge
• Media engagement to promote health and challenge stigma
• Youth based peer support group