At Project ACE, we are dedicated to amplifying community-grounded research that uncovers and addresses health inequities. We are excited to highlight another new publication, published in the journal AIDS Care, co-authored by Dr. Miya Narushima (Co-PA) and members of our research team:

“Pathways to breaking the cycle of HIV stigma: experiences and insights of racialized immigrant communities in the Greater Toronto Area and Niagara Region, Canada”
DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2026.2669033

Key Takeaways:

• The Compounding Stigma Cycle: The study maps how chronic experiences of discrimination and structural barriers accumulate over time, leading to deeply internalized fear, anticipated judgment, and self-isolation for racialized immigrants living with HIV.
• Gendered Double Standards: Findings spotlight a sharp moral double standard facing women in these communities, where cultural and gender expectations around sexual respectability heavily constrain their ability to seek care and support safely.
• Overcoming Community Silence: Cultural silences and the fear of gossip create environments of “social unsafety” where invisibility becomes a necessary coping mechanism, pointing to the critical need for safe, culturally responsive spaces.

This research reinforces Project ACE’s ongoing commitment to developing interventions that target the intersection of structural racism, gender discrimination, and migration realities.

Read the full article: To learn more about the study’s findings and recommendations for care, check out the complete manuscript via Taylor & Francis Online.