Gaukhar Mergenova
Biographic Data
| ID | 109810 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Gaukhar Mergenova |
| GIVEN NAMES | Gaukhar |
| FAMILY NAME | Mergenova |
| SIGNATURE | MERGENOVA G |
| AFFILIATIONS | Global Health Research Center of Central Asia |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-4702-1944 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 21 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 1 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 21 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2016 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Covid-19-Related Diminished Peer HIV Communication Intentions Among Sexual and Gender Expansive Individuals in Kazakhstan
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted HIV service use among sexual and gender expansive (SGE) individuals in Kazakhstan and could further erode other key behavioral dimensions of HIV prevention, such as peer HIV communication intentions. We examined the association between COVID-19 disruptions to HIV service use and behavioral intention of peer HIV communication among SGE individuals enrolled in an HIV prevention trial in Kazakhstan, using data from th…
HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Men and Transgender/Gender Expansive Individuals Who Have Sex with Men in Kazakhstan
“A sense of joy and responsibility”
Citizen science approaches, which engage the public in scientific research tasks, can empower adolescents and young adults (AYA) to generate ideas that solve problems in their communities. However, little is known about why AYA choose to partner on HIV citizen science studies, their experiences, or the impact of engagement. This study assessed AYA partners' engagement as Youth Research Collaborators (YRC) on a citizen science HIV stigma reduction…
A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial of PRIDE in HIV Care
HIV transmission in Kazakhstan has increased among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender and nonbinary people who have sex with men (TSM), driven by low HIV testing rates. PRIDE in HIV Care is an intervention designed to have a community-level effect of increasing HIV testing among MSM and TSM in Kazakhstan. The intervention was tested using a stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized controlled trial across three cities in Kazakhstan: Almaty, …
A Content Analysis of Digital Crowdsourced Messages to Reduce HIV Stigma and Promote Testing Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Kazakhstan
A qualitative dyad analysis of barriers and facilitators of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among people who inject drugs (PWID) with HIV in Kazakhstan
People with HIV (PWH) who inject drugs (PWID) face many barriers to ART adherence. Kazakhstan has one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics in the world, primarily fueled by injection drug use, yet ART adherence among PWID is low. Social support can help address these barriers, but ART adherence among PWID is rarely examined within the relationship context. We conducted interviews with 20 PWID with HIV and 18 of their intimate partners and perform…
A Dyad-Based Intervention to Improve Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among People with HIV who Inject Drugs in Kazakhstan
Typologies of Sex Work Practice and Associations with the HIV Risk Environment and Risk Behaviors in Kazakhstan
Compounding vulnerabilities
Gay, bisexual, and other men and transgender and nonbinary people who have sex with men (MSM and TSM) are disproportionately impacted by the HIV epidemic in Kazakhstan. MSM and TSM in Kazakhstan also face high levels of discrimination and victimization, known barriers to engagement in HIV prevention and care. We examined data from surveys with 455 MSM and TSM collected May -- October 2020 to determine whether access to HIV testing and treatment w…
The Covid-19 pandemic and mental health in Kazakhstan
The COVID-19 pandemic had significant impacts on mental health. We examined factors associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kazakhstan. We surveyed 991 adults in Kazakhstan in July 2021 using multistage stratified sampling. Depression and anxiety were measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire-4. We conducted logistic regression to assess associations between depression and anxiety and sociobehaviora…
Reducing Partner Violence Against Women who Exchange Sex and use Drugs through a Combination Microfinance and HIV Risk Reduction Intervention
‘I never hoped for anything . . . now I have other plans’
Over the past decade, Kazakhstan has experienced increased cases of HIV, especially among women who engage in sex work and use drugs. Research has examined the efficacy of structural interventions to reduce HIV risk; however, few studies have examined the experiences of women participating in these interventions. This study aimed to understand the perceived impact that HIV risk reduction and savings-led microfinance components of the Nova study h…
Implementation of a Dyad-Based Intervention to Improve Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Among HIV-Positive People Who Inject Drugs in Kazakhstan
This trial responds to a need for dyad-based ART adherence interventions adapted specifically for HIV-positive PWID
Combination Microfinance and HIV Risk Reduction Among Women Engaged in Sex Work
The purpose of this paper is to summarize 15 years of intervention science in combination HIV prevention and microfinance among women engaged in sex work (WESW) in Central Asia, identifying gaps in our understanding and recommendations for future studies. We begin by describing the emergence of HIV/STI risk among WESW in the Central Asia region, specifically Mongolia and Kazakhstan, and bridge to the formative stages of our methodology as well as…
Religion and HIV Risk Among Male Market Vendors in Kazakhstan
If You Build It, Will They Use It? Preferences for Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Adherence Monitoring Among People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) in Kazakhstan
Project Nova
How Do Risk Environment Factors Influence Perpetration of Partner Violence among Male Migrant and Non-migrant Market Workers in Central Asia
Sexual Risks and Policing among Male Migrant and Non-migrant Market Vendors in Central Asia
Islamic Influence on HIV Risk and Protection Among Central Asian Male Migrant Workers in Kazakhstan
HIV incidence is increasing in Central Asia, where migrant workers experience risks for acquiring sexually transmitted HIV. As a social and structural factor that may influence perceptions and behavior, we examine how Islam shapes HIV risk and protection. Phenomenological qualitative interviews examine religion and contexts of HIV risk among 48 male Central Asian migrant workers residing in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Men described nonvaginal sex, alcoho…
Social Support and HIV Risks Among Migrant and Non-Migrant Market Workers in Almaty, Kazakhstan
Combination Microfinance and HIV Risk Reduction Among Women Engaged in Sex Work
The purpose of this paper is to summarize 15 years of intervention science in combination HIV prevention and microfinance among women engaged in sex work (WESW) in Central Asia, identifying gaps in our understanding and recommendations for future studies. We begin by describing the emergence of HIV/STI risk among WESW in the Central Asia region, specifically Mongolia and Kazakhstan, and bridge to the formative stages of our methodology as well as…
Social Support and HIV Risks Among Migrant and Non-Migrant Market Workers in Almaty, Kazakhstan
Sexual Risks and Policing among Male Migrant and Non-migrant Market Vendors in Central Asia
Islamic Influence on HIV Risk and Protection Among Central Asian Male Migrant Workers in Kazakhstan
HIV incidence is increasing in Central Asia, where migrant workers experience risks for acquiring sexually transmitted HIV. As a social and structural factor that may influence perceptions and behavior, we examine how Islam shapes HIV risk and protection. Phenomenological qualitative interviews examine religion and contexts of HIV risk among 48 male Central Asian migrant workers residing in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Men described nonvaginal sex, alcoho…
Project Nova
How Do Risk Environment Factors Influence Perpetration of Partner Violence among Male Migrant and Non-migrant Market Workers in Central Asia
If You Build It, Will They Use It? Preferences for Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) Adherence Monitoring Among People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) in Kazakhstan
Religion and HIV Risk Among Male Market Vendors in Kazakhstan
‘I never hoped for anything . . . now I have other plans’
Over the past decade, Kazakhstan has experienced increased cases of HIV, especially among women who engage in sex work and use drugs. Research has examined the efficacy of structural interventions to reduce HIV risk; however, few studies have examined the experiences of women participating in these interventions. This study aimed to understand the perceived impact that HIV risk reduction and savings-led microfinance components of the Nova study h…
Implementation of a Dyad-Based Intervention to Improve Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Among HIV-Positive People Who Inject Drugs in Kazakhstan
This trial responds to a need for dyad-based ART adherence interventions adapted specifically for HIV-positive PWID
Combination Microfinance and HIV Risk Reduction Among Women Engaged in Sex Work
The purpose of this paper is to summarize 15 years of intervention science in combination HIV prevention and microfinance among women engaged in sex work (WESW) in Central Asia, identifying gaps in our understanding and recommendations for future studies. We begin by describing the emergence of HIV/STI risk among WESW in the Central Asia region, specifically Mongolia and Kazakhstan, and bridge to the formative stages of our methodology as well as…
Compounding vulnerabilities
Gay, bisexual, and other men and transgender and nonbinary people who have sex with men (MSM and TSM) are disproportionately impacted by the HIV epidemic in Kazakhstan. MSM and TSM in Kazakhstan also face high levels of discrimination and victimization, known barriers to engagement in HIV prevention and care. We examined data from surveys with 455 MSM and TSM collected May -- October 2020 to determine whether access to HIV testing and treatment w…
The Covid-19 pandemic and mental health in Kazakhstan
The COVID-19 pandemic had significant impacts on mental health. We examined factors associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kazakhstan. We surveyed 991 adults in Kazakhstan in July 2021 using multistage stratified sampling. Depression and anxiety were measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire-4. We conducted logistic regression to assess associations between depression and anxiety and sociobehaviora…
Reducing Partner Violence Against Women who Exchange Sex and use Drugs through a Combination Microfinance and HIV Risk Reduction Intervention
Typologies of Sex Work Practice and Associations with the HIV Risk Environment and Risk Behaviors in Kazakhstan
A qualitative dyad analysis of barriers and facilitators of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among people who inject drugs (PWID) with HIV in Kazakhstan
People with HIV (PWH) who inject drugs (PWID) face many barriers to ART adherence. Kazakhstan has one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics in the world, primarily fueled by injection drug use, yet ART adherence among PWID is low. Social support can help address these barriers, but ART adherence among PWID is rarely examined within the relationship context. We conducted interviews with 20 PWID with HIV and 18 of their intimate partners and perform…
A Dyad-Based Intervention to Improve Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among People with HIV who Inject Drugs in Kazakhstan
Covid-19-Related Diminished Peer HIV Communication Intentions Among Sexual and Gender Expansive Individuals in Kazakhstan
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted HIV service use among sexual and gender expansive (SGE) individuals in Kazakhstan and could further erode other key behavioral dimensions of HIV prevention, such as peer HIV communication intentions. We examined the association between COVID-19 disruptions to HIV service use and behavioral intention of peer HIV communication among SGE individuals enrolled in an HIV prevention trial in Kazakhstan, using data from th…
HIV and Other Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Men and Transgender/Gender Expansive Individuals Who Have Sex with Men in Kazakhstan
“A sense of joy and responsibility”
Citizen science approaches, which engage the public in scientific research tasks, can empower adolescents and young adults (AYA) to generate ideas that solve problems in their communities. However, little is known about why AYA choose to partner on HIV citizen science studies, their experiences, or the impact of engagement. This study assessed AYA partners' engagement as Youth Research Collaborators (YRC) on a citizen science HIV stigma reduction…
A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial of PRIDE in HIV Care
HIV transmission in Kazakhstan has increased among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender and nonbinary people who have sex with men (TSM), driven by low HIV testing rates. PRIDE in HIV Care is an intervention designed to have a community-level effect of increasing HIV testing among MSM and TSM in Kazakhstan. The intervention was tested using a stepped-wedge, cluster-randomized controlled trial across three cities in Kazakhstan: Almaty, …
A Content Analysis of Digital Crowdsourced Messages to Reduce HIV Stigma and Promote Testing Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Kazakhstan
HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (17 works) · Medicine (17 works) · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk (15 works) · Sex work and related issues (14 works) · Psychology (13 works) · Family medicine (12 works) · Nursing (11 works) · Public health (11 works) · Demography (10 works) · Sociology (10 works)