Co-Creating and Scaling a Tailored, Lay-Delivered Group Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (G-CBT) Intervention for Depression Among Young People Living with HIV (YPLHIV) in Cameroon: A Hybrid Implementation-Effectiveness Study

This proposal, led by the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) Cameroon in collaboration with the National AIDS Control Commission (NACC), the Directorate of Health Promotion, and an association of lived-experience experts, aims to adapt and scale a lay-delivered Group Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (G-CBT) model to strengthen the management of depression among young people living with HIV (YPLHIV, aged 15–24 years) in Cameroon. The project will unfold in two linked phases. The Foundation Phase will establish coordination structures, assess evidence and site readiness, and co-create and culturally adapt the G-CBT model with youth and lived-experience experts. This phase will culminate in an implementation package—comprising an intervention manual, facilitator training curriculum, supervision and fidelity-monitoring tools, and a finalized protocol to guide the Impact Phase. The Impact Phase will assess the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and scalability of the adapted model through a Hybrid Type II cluster-randomised trial, guided by RE-AIM and CFIR frameworks. Expected outcomes include improved depression management, better ART adherence and retention, and enhanced psychosocial wellbeing. The project will yield a validated implementation toolkit, a costed scale-up model, and policy-ready evidence to integrate depression care into youth-friendly HIV services in Cameroon. Keywords: Depression, Adolescents, HIV, Mental Health, G-CBT, Implementation Research, Cameroon