Peer Navigation for HIV-Associated Kaposi Sarcoma in Kenya: The Power of the Survivor's Voice.

Purpose: Sub-Saharan Africa bears a disproportionate share of the global burden of HIV- associated Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), with high morbidity and mortality rates influenced by stigma, delayed diagnosis, and limited access to care. This study examines Peer Navigation, through both personal and clinical perspectives, as a potential intervention to improve outcomes for those living with KS in western Kenya.

Patients And Methods: This study centers on the lived experience of one KS survivor who became a Peer Navigator in western Kenya.

Impact of a multicomponent navigation strategy on stigma among people living with HIV and Kaposi's sarcoma in Kenya: a qualitative analysis.

Persons with HIV-associated Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) experience three co-existing stigmatizing health conditions: skin disease, HIV, and cancer, which contribute to a complex experience of stigmatization and to delays in diagnosis and treatment. Despite the importance of stigma among these patients, there are few proven stigma-reduction strategies for HIV-associated malignancies. Using qualitative methods, we explore how people with HIV-associated KS in western Kenya between August 2022 and 2023 describe changes in their stigma experience after participation in a multicomponent navigation strategy, which included 1) physical navigation and care coordination, 2) video-based education with motivational survivor stories, 3) travel stipend, 4) health insurance enrollment assistance, 5) health insurance stipend, and 6) peer mentorship.