(Re)producing HIV Care for Ukrainian Refugees in Germany and Poland: Trans-Local Community-Based Support in Action

Abstract

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and the resulting refugee crisis, this study investigates innovative and flexible forms of trans-local care among communities of Ukrainian refugees living with HIV in host countries, particularly Germany and Poland. The study adopts a community-based participatory research approach to understand how trans-local community-based organizations (CBOs) support access to HIV care for Ukrainian refugees in Germany and Poland, and what roles activists and peer networks play in overcoming barriers to healthcare in the context of forced displacement. It is based on semi-structured interviews with refugee activists, community members, healthcare professionals, social workers, and subject-matter experts—52 interviews in total conducted in 2023–2024. The research identifies emerging configurations of community networks that facilitate access to healthcare, including community-based, mixed-type, and bridge-type organizations. Activists play a central role in navigating unfamiliar healthcare systems, advocating for migrant-sensitive services, and developing grassroots solutions to both individual and structural barriers to HIV care in contexts of forced displacement. Migrant organizations are instrumental in facilitating community-based linkage to HIV care for refugees. In the case of Ukrainian transnational communities, these organizations draw on previously acquired experiences, knowledge, and skills to support their peers. The involvement of community-led initiatives is essential to reducing disparities in healthcare access and promoting the well-being of forced migrants.