Reducing stigma for Indigenous gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men and traditional healers in Guatemala
Kabawil: Adapting an Intervention to Reduce Intersectional Stigmas among Indigenous Sexual Minority Men and Traditional Healers in Mesoamerica
This project adapts friendly workshops to reduce HIV-, sexuality-, and race-based stigma for Indigenous sexual minority men and traditional healers in Guatemala.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11362792 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will work with Indigenous communities in Guatemala to adapt the FRESH workshop so it fits local languages, culture, and the role of traditional healers. They will deliver the adapted workshops to Indigenous gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) and to traditional healers, gather feedback, and use surveys and interviews to track changes in attitudes and health-seeking behaviors. The team will pilot the approach in several Mesoamerican communities and refine the content based on participant experiences. The project focuses on making interactions with healthcare and healing providers safer and more welcoming for Indigenous GBM.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are Indigenous men in Guatemala who identify as gay, bisexual, or men who have sex with men, and traditional healers who serve their communities.
Not a fit: People who are not Indigenous, not part of sexual minority communities, or who do not interact with traditional healers may not directly benefit from this specific adaptation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could make it easier and safer for Indigenous sexual minority men to get HIV prevention, testing, and care by reducing stigma among providers and healers.
How similar studies have performed: Similar FRESH stigma-reduction workshops have reduced healthcare stigma in other countries, though this specific adaptation for Indigenous communities in Guatemala is new.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Orellana, Edwin Roberto — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Orellana, Edwin Roberto
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.