# Social network disruption, stigma, and HIV transmission and care dynamics among forcibly displaced MSM in Ukraine

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE · 2023 · $659,193

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Forced displacement is on the rise, particularly in areas with high HIV prevalence. HIV transmission within and
between forcibly displaced and local communities in situations of prolonged forced displacement can be
facilitated by delayed HIV diagnosis and less viral suppression due to financial, logistical and administrative
barriers placed on displaced people. Forcibly displaced men who have sex with men (fdMSM) can experience
additional barriers due to stigmatization of their sexual orientation (MSM stigma), particularly in countries with
high prevalence of MSM stigma such as Ukraine. Disruption of social networks can amplify the risks of substance
use disorders (SUDs), fuel such stigma and enable HIV transmission. Ukraine has one of the largest HIV
epidemics in Europe and is experiencing a military conflict in the eastern regions that resulted in displacement
of >1.5 million Ukrainians. Consequently, fdMSM in Ukraine face unique challenges with respect to access to
HIV prevention.
 We propose a longitudinal study of 1,200 MSM in Ukraine: 800 MSM (600 local and 200 fdMSM) in Kyiv, the
capital of Ukraine, and 400 (300 local and 100 fdMSM) in Mariupol’, a town in Eastern Ukraine close to the
conflict zone. Modified respondent-driven sampling will be used to recruit participants and collect social network
and behavioral data. Blood samples will be collected for viral load testing, HIV genetic sequencing and
subsequent phylogenetic analysis. All MSM living with HIV will be invited for follow-up interviews after 6- and 12-
months post-baseline recruitment.
 Our overarching hypothesis is that fdMSM will have higher prevalence of SUDs and HIV and be more likely to
appear in recent HIV transmission clusters compared to local MSM, and that fdMSM in Mariupol’ will have more
stigmatizing social network ties that originated after migration compared to fdMSM in Kyiv. We will address the
following Specific Aims: 1) Determine the prevalence of HIV, SUDs, MSM stigma, and HIV testing among local
and fdMSM in Kyiv and Mariupil, Ukraine; 2) Characterize retrospective changes in social network composition
since migration (since 2014) and the impact of these changes on SUDs, MSM stigma, and viral suppression; 3)
Estimate the impact of MSM stigma and social support disruption on HIV transmission dynamics between and
within local MSM and fdMSM using phylogenetic and phylogeographic analysis.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10976366
- **Project number:** 7R01DA057141-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Tetyana Vasylyeva
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $659,193
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 2023-11-01 → 2028-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10976366

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10976366, Social network disruption, stigma, and HIV transmission and care dynamics among forcibly displaced MSM in Ukraine (7R01DA057141-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10976366. Licensed CC0.

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