Publications by authors named "Sugandhi Del Canto"

Background: Understanding the roots of vaccine confidence in vulnerable populations, such as persons living with HIV (PLWH), is important to facilitate vaccine uptake, thus mitigating infection and spread of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. In an online survey of PLWH conducted in Canada during winter 2022 (), we reported that the overall COVID-19 vaccination uptake rate in PLWH was similar by sex. Here, we examined attitudes and beliefs towards vaccination against COVID-19 based on sex.

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Article Synopsis
  • Understanding the reasons behind Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy in at-risk groups, particularly persons living with HIV (PLWH), is critical for improving vaccination rates.
  • A modified Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (VHS) was used to assess attitudes and behaviors towards the Covid-19 vaccine among PLWH, revealing that 89% had received at least one dose.
  • Results indicated that older age significantly increased the likelihood of receiving the vaccine, while most participants recognized the vaccination's importance for their health and the health of the community.
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Saskatoon has nearly half of the diagnoses of HIV in Saskatchewan, Canada, with an incidence rate among Indigenous populations within inner-city contexts that is 3 times higher than national rates. Previous research does not adequately explore the relations between HIV vulnerabilities within these contexts and the experiences of illness disclosure that are informed by identity transformations, experiences of stigma, and social support. From an intersectionality framework and a constructivist grounded theory approach, this research involved in-depth, semistructured interviews with 21 Indigenous people living with HIV and/or AIDS in Saskatoon, both male and female.

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