{
  "abstract": "Mental health conditions among young sexual minority men (YSMM) are a growing public health concern, yet they are understudied in sub-Saharan African settings. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms, and associated factors among YSMM in Kenya. Between February and March 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional bio-behavioral survey among YSMM aged [≥]18 years enrolled in tertiary academic institutions in Nairobi, using respondent-driven sampling. Participants completed an electronically self-administered demographic and behavioral questionnaire on REDCap(R). Depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed using Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) tools respectively, with scores [≥]10 indicating moderate-to-severe symptoms. HIV antibody testing followed Kenyan national guidelines. Principal component analysis was used to derive stigma-related domains, and multivariate logistic regression identified factors associated with outcomes. Data analysis was done using Stata v.17 software. Among 242 participants, median age was 21 years (IQR 19 - 23). Prevalence of depressive, anxiety, co-occurring depressive/anxiety symptoms and HIV were: 23.7% (95% CI: 18.4 - 29.5), 16.9% (95% CI: 12.4 - 22.3), 12.4% (95% CI: 8.5 - 17.2) and 8.3% (95% CI: 5.1 - 12.5), respectively. Factors independently associated with depressive symptoms were: living with HIV (AOR: 4.88, 95% CI: 1.18 - 20.18, p = 0.029), moderate-to-severe anxiety symptoms (AOR: 25.63, 95% CI: 8.58 - 76.61, p <0.001), healthcare-related discrimination (AOR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.07 - 2.28, p = 0.020) and early years of study (AOR: 2.79, 95% CI: 1.09 - 7.15, p = 0.033). Factors independently associated with anxiety symptoms were: moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms (AOR: 26.10, 95% CI: 8.10 - 84.15, p <0.001), attending a public academic institution (AOR: 3.33, 95% CI: 1.14 - 10.00, p = 0.028), and boarding school history (AOR: 4.35, 95% CI: 1.14 - 16.67, p = 0.032). YSMM in Nairobi experience a high burden of depressive and anxiety symptoms with substantial co-occurrence. Living with HIV, experiencing healthcare-related discrimination and educational context play key roles in shaping mental health outcomes among YSMM. These findings underscore the importance of integrating mental health with HIV services, alongside stigma-reduction interventions in both healthcare and educational settings, to improve access, quality of care, and outcomes for this young key population.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "University of Nairobi"
  ],
  "article_type": "PUBLISHAHEADOFPRINT",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 8,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "S. W. Mwaniki"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. M. Kilonzo"
    },
    {
      "name": "P. M. Kaberia"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. K. Cheruiyot"
    },
    {
      "name": "W. M. Nyagah"
    },
    {
      "name": "H. K. Rop"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. D. Smith"
    },
    {
      "name": "T. Palanee-Phillips"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fz204jxzbt23q.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.12.26362875",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.12.26362875v1.full",
  "id": "fz204jxzbt23q",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.12.26362875v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "medrxiv",
      "public and global health"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3207|LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7213242392",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.12.26362875v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-12",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fz204jxzbt23q.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:31Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.12.26362875",
      "source": "medrxiv",
      "url": "https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.12.26362875v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "medrxiv:public and global health",
      "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Mental health, HIV and healthcare-related discrimination among young sexual minority men in Kenya: implications for integrated care and stigma reduction",
  "title_text": "Mental health, HIV and healthcare-related discrimination among young sexual minority men in Kenya: implications for integrated care and stigma reduction",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:18:31Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fz204jxzbt23q",
  "venue": "medRxiv",
  "versions": []
}