Project Title
The Youth Sexual Health and HIV/STI Prevention in Middle Eastern and North African Communities (YSMENA)
( www.ysmenaprogram.com )
Project Leads
Objectives
YSMENA is a program of research with the aims to: (1) understand how the social environments and relationships of MENA youth in the contexts of their homes, schools, and communities, shape their identities and influence their sexual health; (2) engage in developmental research that builds community and youth capacity in knowledge generation and sexual health; (3) bridge existing gaps in the literature that apply to the MENA community and amass evidence to inform future health programming and policy; and (4) engage youth participants in designing sexual health interventions that can inform relevant programming and planning.
Research questions
What are the social determinants of HIV/STBBI vulnerabilities and sexual health needs of MENA LGBTQ+ youth? What are effective interventions that promote sexual and mental wellbeing of MENA LGBTQ+ youth?
Background
Despite ongoing increase in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) population in Canada, there is a scarcity of research on the sexual health of MENA youth in Canada. Findings from a community-based research study in Ontario conducted between 2019-2021 indicated that diaspora MENA gay and bisexual cis men who have sex with men (MSM) and trans youth experience multiple sexual and mental health challenges associated with experiences of homophobia, transphobia, racism, economic marginalization, and barriers in accessing health and social care or employment. YSMENA is the first community-based research program in Canada to center the voices of diaspora MENA youth. It consists of three related projects.
Methods
The YSMENA program consists of three sub-studies. Study One explored the sociocultural and socioenvironmental determinants of MENA youth sexual health. Six MENA youth leaders were trained and mentored to outreach, recruit and engage MENA youth in sequential dialogue and focus groups (n=55). Drawing on the Study One results, Study Two focuses on designing, piloting and conducting an e-survey (n=200) to determine meaningful HIV prevention interventions for MENA youth at a national level. Study Three focuses on piloting and evaluating a mindfulness based intervention to promote HIV literacy and psychological well-being to reduce their HIV vulnerabilities.
Current Status
YSMENA Project One is completed; Project Two is in data collection stage, and Project Three is under research ethics review.
Expected completion
2025
Co-researchers & Partners
Ontario HIV Treatment Support Network (OHTN); Africans In Partnership Against AIDS (APAA); Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI); Canadian Arab Institute; Positive Living Niagara; The Teresa Group; AIDS Committee of Ottawa; Newcomers Diversity Community; Women’s Health In Women’s Hands; Regional HIV/AIDS Connection; HIV/AIDS Resources & Community Health; AIDS Committee of Toronto; WHTO; Arab Community Centre of Toronto; and ACPNet
Funding
CCanadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR); CIHR Canadian HIV Trial Network (CTN) Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR)
Key words
Middle Eastern and North African (MENA), LGBTQ+ youth, immigrants, HIV/STBB! Prevention, mental health