The Syndemic of Gender-Based Violence, HIV, and Mental Health Disorders: An Original Investigation with Refugee Women in the Dadaab Camp, Kenya

This original research investigates the syndemic interaction of gender-based violence (GBV), HIV, and mental health disorders among refugee women in the Dadaab camp, Kenya. It addresses a critical gap in African humanitarian health data by quantifying the prevalence and synergistic relationships between these co-occurring conditions. A cross-sectional, mixed-methods design was employed (2023–2024). Quantitative data were collected via structured surveys from a stratified random sample of 412 women, using validated scales to assess GBV exposure, HIV status, and mental health symptoms. These were complemented by 30 in-depth qualitative interviews exploring lived experiences and service-access barriers. Analysis revealed a high syndemic burden: 68% reported GBV in the preceding two years, with a 32% HIV prevalence within this group. Women exposed to GBV demonstrated significantly higher odds of screening positive for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Qualitative findings delineated a cyclical syndemic, wherein mental distress increased HIV risk behaviours, while GBV survivors faced stigma that hindered healthcare access. The study concludes that these epidemics are mutually reinforcing within the camp’s socio-structural context, not merely concurrent. This underscores an urgent need for integrated, trauma-informed public health interventions in Dadaab and similar settings. We advocate for programmes that concurrently address violence prevention, mental health support, and HIV care to disrupt this syndemic and improve holistic health outcomes for refugee women.