# Aligning HIV services with gender diverse community priorities through person-centered care: a mixed methods study in India

> **NIH NIH F31** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $48,974

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Background: To meet the UNAIDS 95-95-95 Fast Track targets for HIV epidemic control by 2030, public
health services must prioritize strategies that support high HIV burden communities to engage in HIV testing
and follow-up services. Globally, transgender and gender diverse (TGD) communities bear a higher HIV
prevalence than general populations and face stigmatizing healthcare environments. Further, global HIV
research and programming has lacked TGD community leadership and inclusion. Partnering with TGD
communities to explore new models of service delivery is vital to make progress towards HIV epidemic control.
Study Goals and Aims: The proposed study explores how a person-centered care model can improve service
access for TGD communities to know their HIV status and benefit from tailored service packages. The study
focuses on TGD populations in Telangana and Maharashtra, India to 1) Identify profiles of HIV testing non-
engagement among TGD people; 2) Explore mechanisms which promote HIV testing among TGD people with
a person-centered care model; and 3) Generate staff-designed solutions which promote service engagement
among TGD communities implemented through a person-centered care model. This research aligns with NIMH
Division of AIDS Research priorities to advance context-appropriate interventions to increase HIV testing.
Approach: An explanatory, sequential mixed methods design will use existing data from a respondent-driven
sampling survey and will partner with three person-centered care TGD healthcare centers called Mitr clinics in
Telangana and Maharashtra, India. The study builds off work of a PEPFAR/USAID-funded program led by the
Johns Hopkins University with service delivery by Indian non-profit YRG CARE. Aim 1 will conduct latent class
analysis using quantitative survey data to identify sub-groups of TGD people with specific sets of needs around
HIV testing. Aim 2 will collect primary qualitative data through in-depth interviews with 25-35 TGD individuals to
explore how to fill HIV testing needs and priorities for services at a person-centered care model. Aim 3 will use
human-centered design workshops to understand Aim 1-2 findings from the perspective of 20-30 Mitr clinic
staff and providers to co-create strategies to improve service engagement at a person-centered care model.
Triangulating findings from Aims 1-3 will enrich scientific inquiry and produce strategies to align HIV services
with TGD community needs through a person-centered care model implemented with ease and efficiency.
Fellowship Information: The proposed study will serve as the doctoral dissertation for PhD student Rose
Pollard Kaptchuk at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The training is guided by a tailored
mentorship team with complementary expertise to support Rose in her training, facilitate successful
collaboration with Mitr clinics, and ensure effective dissemination of research findings. The training plan will
prepare Rose...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10921340
- **Project number:** 1F31MH136856-01
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Rose Pollard Kaptchuk
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $48,974
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-06-01 → 2025-03-18

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10921340

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10921340, Aligning HIV services with gender diverse community priorities through person-centered care: a mixed methods study in India (1F31MH136856-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10921340. Licensed CC0.

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