Covid-19-Related Diminished Peer HIV Communication Intentions Among Sexual and Gender Expansive Individuals in Kazakhstan

Bibliographic Data

ID21650964
AuthorsYong Gun Lee (0000-0002-5838-3337, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, corresponding author), Vitaliy Vinogradov (0009-0008-3839-7337, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Almaty, Kazakhstan), Gaukhar Mergenova (0000-0003-4702-1944, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Almaty, Kazakhstan), Emily Allen Paine (0000-0002-6177-2835, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA), Caitlin I Laughney (0000-0002-7304-9943, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA), Kelsey G Reeder (0000-0002-6088-5854, Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY, USA), Alissa Davis (0000-0003-2084-9741, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Almaty, Kazakhstan), Sholpan Primbetova (0000-0002-7633-7764, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Almaty, Kazakhstan), Assel Terlikbayeva (0000-0002-4067-1998, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Almaty, Kazakhstan), Elwin Wu (0000-0003-4253-3430, Columbia University Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Almaty, Kazakhstan)
Year2026
Volume53
Issue1
Pages92-97
Publication date2026-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHealth Education & Behavior (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1090-1981 • E-ISSN: 1552-6127
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/10901981251362813
PMID40819248
OpenAlexW4413270327
LanguageEN
References cited18

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 the first 6 months of COVID-19 disruptions assessment (May–October 2020). Among 455 participants retained in the clinical trial during this period, 101 (22%) reported any COVID-19-induced disruption to HIV service use and 212 (47%) fell in the low-range intention of peer HIV communication. Being in the low-range intention was positively associated with reporting HIV service use disruptions, especially among SGE individuals living with HIV. Study findings warrant efforts of to address pandemic disruptions when promoting and sustaining peer HIV communication among MSM and TSM in Kazakhstan

Environmental health · Expansive · Family medicine · Health education · Pandemic · Peer education · Peer group · Peer support · Psychiatry · Public health · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Sex work and related issues · Social Psychology · Gerontology