“HIV Made Me Fabulous:” Utilizing film for knowledge dissemination and stigma reduction

Co-lead:

  • Valerie Nicholson 
    BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS

Team members: 

  • Allison Carter
    SFU
  • Lori Brotto
    Women’s Health Research Institute
  • Nicole Prestley
    Women’s Health Research Institute
  • Melissa Nelson
    Women’s Health Research Institute
  • Juno Roche
    Sophia Forum
  • Edmond Kilpatrick
    SFU
  • Florence Anam
    Africa for MSF
  • Marvelous Muchenje
    ViiV Healthcare
  • Azra Bhanji
    SFU

People who have an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV during condomless sex. However, women living with HIV continue to face HIV-related stigma. “HIV Made Me Fabulous” is a short film (https://youtu.be/QamnyGc0gtY) grounded in current HIV science that invites audiences to understand the physically and emotionally charged experience of living and loving with HIV from a woman’s perspective. This project aims to disseminate the film to advance public understandings of sexuality and HIV, to reduce HIV-related stigma and improve the health of women living with HIV. 

Our team will:

  1. Host four virtual film screenings and facilitated discussions, and assess impacts among priority target audiences (i.e. women with HIV, providers/policymakers, the general public).
  2. Use findings from the screenings to develop a film discussion guide to support others (e.g. HIV support groups, care providers, gender equity leaders) to screen the film and facilitate safe, informed, and evidence-based discussions.
  3. Widely disseminate the film and discussion guide via YouTube, social media, and community/academic forums. Mixed methods will be used to evaluate the reach and impact of this innovative, arts-based, technology-driven KT project.