A qualitative study of barriers to employment experienced by people living with HIV in Toronto and Ottawa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Effective treatment has extended the life expectancy and reduced disability in people living with HIV (PLWH). However, previous research has found 45-65% of working-age PLWH were unemployed compared to 5-10% in the general public of North America and Europe. We examined the barriers to gaining employment among PLWH.

Methods

Thirty-five in-depth interviews were conducted in person or over the phone with PLWH living in Toronto or Ottawa. This included PLWH who were unemployed but actively seeking employment, as well as PLWH who had successfully gained employment through an agency that specifically supported PLWH funded by the AIDS Committee of Toronto. Interviews were conducted between February 2019 and March 2020. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and

SUBMITTER: Perri M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7807879 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature