"Since I got the education, I feel like a kind of warrior": a qualitative study of participant perspectives and preferences about Sauti ya Vijana, a mental health intervention for young people with HIV in Tanzania.
Anat Fuksman, Fortunata Nasuwa, Getrud J Mollel et al.
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In 30 seconds
This qualitative study explored how young people with HIV in Tanzania experienced Sauti ya Vijana (SYV), a co-created, peer-led group mental health intervention, and what they preferred about it. Participants were drawn from the intervention arm of a randomized trial conducted across four regions; 208 young people took part in 32 focus group discussions, held shortly after the intervention and approximately 12 months later. Participants described gains in HIV and mental health knowledge, coping, confidence, relationships, disclosure, and community belonging. They perceived these changes as supporting medication adherence and expressed that the program should reach more young people.
Key findings
- Across 32 focus groups, 208 participants described HIV and mental health knowledge as supporting coping, self-confidence, and perceived medication adherence.
- Participants said sharing personal information strengthened relationships and enabled further disclosure and knowledge-sharing.
- Participants described greater hope, worth, and belonging in their communities and considered the program beneficial and suitable for wider reach.
Why it matters
The findings highlight how a peer-led group intervention may be experienced as addressing interconnected mental health, adherence, and social needs among young people living with HIV. Participants’ accounts suggest that knowledge, supportive relationships, and belonging are valued components of care. These perspectives can inform the design and evaluation of youth-focused services, while remaining distinct from evidence of measured clinical effectiveness.
What to keep in mind
The findings are qualitative and based on focus groups with participants randomized to the intervention arm; they reflect participant perspectives rather than comparative estimates of clinical effectiveness.