# Harnessing the power of peer navigation and mHealth to reduce health disparities in Appalachia

> **NIH NIH R01** · WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2020 · $496,556

## Abstract

Appalachia is a socially and economically disadvantaged part of the US, and growing evidence
suggests that health disparities between Appalachia and the rest of the country are widening. Gay, bisexual,
and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and transgender women in rural Appalachia are at increased
risk for HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). There remains a dearth of
effective approaches to address these emerging and intersecting epidemics among GBMSM and
transgender women living in rural settings in the US.
 In Aim 1, our community-based participatory research (CBPR) partnership proposes to systematically
integrate two evidenced-based strategies (i.e., peer navigation and mHealth) into a comprehensive culturally
congruent, bilingual intervention to increase the use of needed HIV, STI, and HCV prevention and care
services among racially/ethnically diverse GBMSM and transgender women in rural Appalachia. In Aim 2, we
will implement and test the intervention through a longitudinal group-randomized design using behavioral
assessment and in-depth interview data collected at: (1) baseline, (2) immediate post intervention, and (3) 12-
month follow-up. Our hypotheses are that participants in the intervention group, relative to their counterparts in
the delayed-intervention group, will demonstrate (1) increased HIV, STI, and HCV testing and (2) increased
use of needed prevention services (PrEP and syringe services) and care services (HIV care, STI and HCV
treatment, and gender-affirming care). In Aim 3, we will develop and disseminate practice, research,
intervention, and policy priorities and recommendations to reduce health disparities in rural Appalachia by
conducting an empowerment theory-based community forum.
 This CBPR study will advance prevention science and practice through testing an innovative
intervention to promote and support the use of needed HIV, STI, and HCV prevention and care services
among GBMSM and transgender women; and developing priorities and recommendations to improve their
health that will be disseminated to inform public health practice, research, and policy. By integrating peer
navigation and mHealth strategies, the proposed study provides a unique opportunity to improve health among
vulnerable, hidden, and neglected populations living in rural Appalachia. Findings from this research may
inform strategies and approaches to address other health disparities in other rural populations.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10071232
- **Project number:** 1R01NR019512-01
- **Recipient organization:** WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Scott D Rhodes
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $496,556
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-08-27 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10071232

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10071232, Harnessing the power of peer navigation and mHealth to reduce health disparities in Appalachia (1R01NR019512-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10071232. Licensed CC0.

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