Adolescents who live with HIV (ALWH) face unaddressed mental health challenges that negatively influence their adherence to antiretroviral medication and HIV outcomes.  In sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority of ALWH reside, there is a scarcity of mental health professionals to meet the mental health service gap. Peer-led interventions may be an effective implementation strategy to task-share mental health care delivery.  This study aimed to evaluate peer group leaders’ experience through in-depth interviews after the delivery of a mental health intervention called Sauti ya Vijana (SYV-The Voice of Youth).

Twenty-five peer group leaders (PGL) 23 to 29 years of age and living with HIV were extensively trained to deliver the SYV intervention.  SYV includes ten group-based sessions, two with caregiver participation, and two individual sessions. SYV incorporates components of three evidence–based psychotherapies to discuss coping, relationships, stigma, disclosure, and value-guided goal pursuit. 

This study explores whether the peer-led, group-based model was a feasible and acceptable implementation strategy to deliver a mental health intervention that reached many adolescents living with HIV in Tanzania. The results of this study will help guide the development of future peer-led interventions utilizing a task-sharing framework.