TRANSFORM PROJECT
Targeted Research Advancing Sexual Health for Men who have sex with Men (TRANSFORM). With support from EHPSA-South Africa PHAD is undertaking a research project among MSM in the Nairobi County.
What is the problem/background?
MSM have higher burdens and risks of HIV infection than adults in the general population. Despite the high needs for HIV care among this population, MSM frequently encounter obstacles to accessing health care and HIV services due to discomfort with care providers.
Overall Objective
Assess what existing and emerging HIV prevention and care interventions are feasible, acceptable and needed by Men who have sex with Men (MSM) in Kenya and South Africa.
a) General Objectives:
To describe the unmet need for prevention, diagnosis and treatment for HIV among MSM in Malindi and Nairobi and to determine acceptable programmatic responses to these needs.
b) Specific Objectives:
Estimate the size of MSM populations in Nairobi and Malindi and describe online and physical networking characteristics within these populations
- Estimate prevalence of HIV (including acute/early HIV), HBV, HCV, syphilis and genital, rectal and pharyngeal Neisseria gonorrhoea/Chlamydia trachomatis infections.
- Document the current continuum of HIV diagnosis, treatment initiation and individual virological suppression in this population.
- Determine individual, community and structural enablers and deterrents to engagement
Expected Impact
A vital goal of this project is to generate information on the scale of HIV prevention, testing and care needs among MSM in the context of existing HIV services in each site, and to engage funders, policy makers, providers and local communities to act upon this information through intervention planning and inform research on pre-exposure prophylaxis among Kenyan MSM