Regaining Control, Quality of Life, and the Experiences of New and Temporary Migrants Who Participated in Peer Navigation for People Living With HIV in Australia: A Qualitative Study.

Abstract

Abstract: In Australia, migrant people living with HIV comprise a disproportionate number of new diagnoses across the country, yet little is known about their experiences with peer navigation. Semistructured interviews examined the quality and impact of HIV peer navigation for 15 new and temporary migrants in Melbourne, Victoria. Participants were diverse in gender and sexuality and were primarily from Asia and Latin America. Their accounts describe stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion related to transnational experiences of HIV, sexuality, and gender and positioned peer navigation as a source of hope, reassurance, acceptance, and belonging. Peer navigation facilitated practical advice and pathways into community, health, legal, and social services that enabled agency and a better quality of life. Our findings suggest that navigators' skill and personal insight into transnational experiences of HIV-related stigma, gender, and sexuality enhanced the effectiveness of support. We discuss recruitment, training, and peer matches as strategies to engage migrants and recommendations to improve wider service and policy responses.