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Protocol

HIV Education, Empathy, and Empowerment (HIVE3): A Peer Support Intervention for Reducing Intersectional Stigma as a Barrier to HIV Testing among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Ghana

by
Gamji M’Rabiu Abubakari
1,*,
Francis Owusu-Dampare
2,
Adedotun Ogunbajo
3,
Joseph Gyasi
4,
Michael Adu
5,
Patrick Appiah
5,
Kwasi Torpey
6,
Laura Nyblade
7 and
LaRon E. Nelson
1,4,8
1
Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
2
Priorities on Rights and Sexual Health, Accra 00233, Ghana
3
Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
4
School of Nursing, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06477, USA
5
Youth Alliance for Health & Human Rights, Kumasi 00233, Ghana
6
School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra 00233, Ghana
7
Global Health Division, International Development Group Research Triangle Institute International, New York, NY 10001, USA
8
St Michael’s Hospital Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Toronto, ON M5B 1W8, Canada
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(24), 13103; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413103
Submission received: 7 November 2021 / Revised: 8 December 2021 / Accepted: 9 December 2021 / Published: 12 December 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optimizing Sexual Health and Wellness: The Role of Interpersonal Relationships and Communication)
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Abstract

Men who have sex with men (MSM) in Ghana remain at heightened risk of HIV infection, and face challenges in accessing HIV prevention and care services. Previous research in Ghana shows that MSM face intersectional stigma across ecological levels (family, peers, healthcare settings, and community level) and the criminalization of same-gender sexual behaviors in the country. To protect their wellbeing from exposure to stigma, many MSM avoid interactions with healthcare systems and services, which inadvertently inhibits their opportunities for early detection and treatment of HIV. Consequently, MSM in Ghana carry a disproportionate burden of HIV prevalence (18%) compared to the general population (2%), highlighting the need for culturally relevant processes in HIV/STI prevention, and care communication to optimize sexual health and wellness among MSM in Ghana. To this effect, we collaborated with community partners to use the Assessment, Decision, Adaptation, Production, Topical Experts, Training, Testing (ADAPT-ITT) model to modify a theory-driven smartphone-based peer support intervention to enhance its focus on intersectional stigma reduction, and improve HIV health-seeking behaviors among MSM, including HIV testing and linkage to care. We used the Dennis Peer Support Model to develop the peer support components (emotional, informational, and appraisal support) to increase peer social support, decrease social isolation, and minimize intersectional stigma effects on HIV-related healthcare-seeking behaviors. This paper shows the preliminary acceptability and effectiveness of employing culturally relevant techniques and communication strategies to provide secure peer support to improve HIV prevention and care among key populations in highly stigmatized environments.
Keywords: HIV testing; peer communication support; HIV testing communication; men who have sex with men; community-based research; mobile-based intervention; Africa; ADAPT-ITT model; dennis peer support model; intersectional stigma HIV testing; peer communication support; HIV testing communication; men who have sex with men; community-based research; mobile-based intervention; Africa; ADAPT-ITT model; dennis peer support model; intersectional stigma

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MDPI and ACS Style

Abubakari, G.M.; Owusu-Dampare, F.; Ogunbajo, A.; Gyasi, J.; Adu, M.; Appiah, P.; Torpey, K.; Nyblade, L.; Nelson, L.E. HIV Education, Empathy, and Empowerment (HIVE3): A Peer Support Intervention for Reducing Intersectional Stigma as a Barrier to HIV Testing among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Ghana. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 13103. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413103

AMA Style

Abubakari GM, Owusu-Dampare F, Ogunbajo A, Gyasi J, Adu M, Appiah P, Torpey K, Nyblade L, Nelson LE. HIV Education, Empathy, and Empowerment (HIVE3): A Peer Support Intervention for Reducing Intersectional Stigma as a Barrier to HIV Testing among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Ghana. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18(24):13103. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413103

Chicago/Turabian Style

Abubakari, Gamji M’Rabiu, Francis Owusu-Dampare, Adedotun Ogunbajo, Joseph Gyasi, Michael Adu, Patrick Appiah, Kwasi Torpey, Laura Nyblade, and LaRon E. Nelson. 2021. "HIV Education, Empathy, and Empowerment (HIVE3): A Peer Support Intervention for Reducing Intersectional Stigma as a Barrier to HIV Testing among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Ghana" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 24: 13103. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413103

APA Style

Abubakari, G. M., Owusu-Dampare, F., Ogunbajo, A., Gyasi, J., Adu, M., Appiah, P., Torpey, K., Nyblade, L., & Nelson, L. E. (2021). HIV Education, Empathy, and Empowerment (HIVE3): A Peer Support Intervention for Reducing Intersectional Stigma as a Barrier to HIV Testing among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Ghana. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(24), 13103. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182413103

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