Table 3 Common facilitators in Canada and Kenya

Societal Level

No facilitators were identified on this level by study participants

Public Policy Level

No additional quotes to report on this level

Institutional

Available and Accessible HIV Prevention Tools

“I think that’s one reason why our STI clinic is so successful, because it’s not appointment, it’s just drop-in.” (HCP, London)

“I think a great thing is the anonymity of getting tested and the fact that you don’t need a health card to do the testing…they don’t want to be stigmatized in their community. I think having the anonymous rapid testing, the fact that you don’t need your health card is huge – because many of our young people lose their health card.” (CS, Toronto)

HIV Awareness and Education

“After a good talk or adherence counseling, they are willing to start their medicine” (CS, Eldoret)

“A big push for education has been around not sharing a wash or a filter which has been great because the majority of folks who inject, know not to share a needle. But really didn’t necessarily know that…The education piece, at least here, and I’m sure in all of Ontario, has really been pushed, over the last number of months, and I think it’s making a difference.” (HCP, London)

Holistic Models of Care

“You’re not just dealing with the medical issue” (CS, Montreal)

“I’ve been in hospitals situations where a social worker has come with me and they sat down and they explain to [healthcare provider], like, “She goes by she, not him, not he. She goes by she/her, her name is Sarah,” and like, they’ve sat down with me the whole time, and made the whole experience a little bit better.” (SIY, Toronto)

Interpersonal Level

Systems Navigation Support

“They just tried to reassure me that even if I was a positive it’s not a death sentence anymore or considered a death sentence. It’s actually something that you can treat and have a full life with now, so it’s – try to calm down” (SIY, London)

“My first test was I’m gay, I’m having sex with other men, and I want to see how [the healthcare provider’s] reaction was, he was like, oh, so like what does that look like. So, I talk to him and he’s willing to listen to what my experience was, and then I told him about PrEP, and he didn’t actually know about it at the time. Then I went in the next time and he’s like, oh I researched PrEP, and he told me stuff I didn’t even know, I was like, wow so, like he listens.” (SIY, London)

Peer Support

“Some have seen their peers who are now healthier and are put in support system and they wish to be going to school some are even incur feeding well opportunity of getting other services beyond health has motivated them to go for testing. Also their colleagues have gotten better after receiving treatment.” (CS, Kitale))

“Peers have a lived experience that carries a lot of weight with everyone. So, I think that’s a strength that they have that clinicians and our service providers may not have and that’s very important.” (HCP, Toronto)

Personal Relationships

“They want to get families, to continue living and to get healthier so they will want to access that medication……For what I have seen maybe they have fallen sick and they also want to form families so they will want to make sure they are ok, and their partners are okay to enter into a family way” (CS, Eldoret)