# Integrating Mental Health into HIV Prevention and Care Continua Services and Systems for Young GBMSM in Kenya: A Community-Led Participatory Approach

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2022 · $190,919

## Abstract

Project Summary
Young gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men (Y-GBMSM) are at elevated risk for HIV
in Kenya, and are a Key Population in the Kenya AIDS Strategic Framework II (2020/21-2024/25). Y-GBMSM
experience multiple barriers to accessing quality HIV prevention and care services, and report high levels of
discrimination and violence perpetrated by healthcare workers. Criminalization of same-sex behavior and
negative societal attitudes toward LGBTQ people lead to persistent experiences of stigma and discrimination.
Y-GBMSM in Kenya also report disproportionately high levels of mental health (MH) challenges, in part due to
persistent discrimination and violence. Associations between mental health challenges and increased HIV risk
behaviors and negative HIV health outcomes have been documented among Y-GBMSM in Kenya. Conversely,
positive mental health factors are associated with improved HIV outcomes for this population regardless of
their HIV status. Given the multi-faceted associations between MH challenges and HIV prevention and
treatment outcomes among Y-GBMSM in Kenya, researchers have recommended the integration of MH and
HIV services, as such integration improves patient and service delivery outcomes. In this R-21 application, we
will utilize a participatory action research approach to: a) explore how mental health challenges negatively
influence progression through both the HIV prevention and HIV care continua for Y-GBMSM in Kisumu, Kenya;
b) develop a framework for integrating MH promotion with HIV prevention and care continua services for Y-
GBMSM in Kisumu; and c) develop blueprints for mental health promotion program components that could be
integrated into HIV prevention and care continua services for Y-GBMSM at four socio-ecological levels:
individual, group, clinic/organization, and community. This proposed study will take advantage of analyzing
data already collected as part of an ongoing study currently testing an HIV prevention/psychosocial PrEP
support intervention for Y-GBMSM in Kisumu [R34-MH-118950-01:Harper,M-PI], and will collect primary data
in the form of community charrettes, individual in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions with both Y-
GBMSM and service providers. We have a multi-disciplinary Core Research Team of mental health and HIV
experts from Kenya and the U.S. that have worked together in Kisumu for 5+ years, and we will have active
engagement from Y-GBMSM through our Community Participatory Development Team and from service
providers through our Service Providers Development Team. The study builds on Harper's 15+ years working
with Y-GBMSM in Kenya. We anticipate that results from this study will have high impact by creating both a
framework that can be used to explore advantages/disadvantages of different models of mental health and HIV
service integration for Y-GBMSM, and blueprints for mental health promotion components that can be
integrated into both HIV prevention and care ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10401110
- **Project number:** 1R21MH126756-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** GARY W HARPER
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $190,919
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-02-16 → 2024-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10401110

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10401110, Integrating Mental Health into HIV Prevention and Care Continua Services and Systems for Young GBMSM in Kenya: A Community-Led Participatory Approach (1R21MH126756-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10401110. Licensed CC0.

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