“When you talk it out … you will feel like the burden has somehow gone down, you will feel light”: Social Support Received by Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men in Western Kenya

Laura Jadwin-Cakmak, Kendall Lauber, Elijah Ochieng Odhiambo, Ben Collins, Edwin Gumbe, Gabriella A. Norwitz, Teddy Aloo, Katherine A. Lewis, Felix Okutah, K Rivet Amico, Kennedy Olango, Wilson Odero, Susan M. Graham and Gary W. Harper
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Laura Jadwin-Cakmak: Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Kendall Lauber: Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Elijah Ochieng Odhiambo: Nyanza Reproductive Health Society, Kisumu 40100, Kenya
Ben Collins: Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Edwin Gumbe: Nyanza Reproductive Health Society, Kisumu 40100, Kenya
Gabriella A. Norwitz: Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
Teddy Aloo: Nyanza Reproductive Health Society, Kisumu 40100, Kenya
Katherine A. Lewis: Department of Community Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Felix Okutah: Nyanza Reproductive Health Society, Kisumu 40100, Kenya
K Rivet Amico: Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Kennedy Olango: Men Against AIDS Youth Group (MAAYGO), Kisumu 40100, Kenya
Wilson Odero: School of Public Health and School of Medicine, Maseno University, Kisumu 40100, Kenya
Susan M. Graham: Global Health, Medicine, and Epidemiology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
Gary W. Harper: Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-20

Abstract: Gay and bisexual men and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) experience many sexual orientation-related stressors that negatively influence physical and mental health, making it imperative to understand their experiences of resilience-promoting resources such as social support. We utilized qualitative and participatory methodologies to examine sources of social support and types of social support received by GBMSM in Western Kenya through in-depth interviews with 60 GBMSM, including both peer educators and community members. GBMSM received emotional, informational, and instrumental support from six different relationship types: friends and peer groups, family of origin, sexual and romantic partners, healthcare providers, peer educators, and other people including work colleagues and police officers. A key finding from this study is the centrality of sexuality-specific support across all sources and types of support. Implications for clinics and LGBTQ organizations, policy, and future research are discussed.

Keywords: Kenya; LGBTQ; social support; mental health; gay and bisexual men; men who have sex with men (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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