Community-Based Collective Care and Resilience Among LGBTQ Populations in Rural Nigeria: The Calabar Case Study

Abstract

Marginalized communities often develop adaptive support systems to maintain wellbeing in environments characterized by stigma, legal restrictions, and limited institutional protection. In Nigeria, the Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act has contributed to heightened social exclusion and barriers to healthcare for LGBTQ populations, particularly in rural areas. This study examines how community-based collective care initiatives support resilience, psychosocial wellbeing, and continuity of SRHR/HIV-related services among LGBTQ individuals in Calabar, Cross River State. Using a community-based case study design, the research documents crisis-response strategies implemented after the vandalism of a community center serving LGBTQ individuals. The intervention framework included peer-led psychosocial support, mutual aid mechanisms, safety protocol development, and participatory governance through a community-led crisis committee. Psychosocial outcomes were assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) among participants (n = 50), while perceived social isolation was measured using the UCLA Loneliness Scale among a subset of participants (n = 30) through pre- and post-intervention surveys. Results indicate improvements in psychosocial wellbeing and social connectedness, with anxiety symptoms decreasing by approximately 30% and loneliness scores declining by 40% following the intervention. These findings highlight the role of community-led collective care models in strengthening resilience and sustaining essential health services among marginalized populations in restrictive social environments. However, findings should be interpreted as exploratory due to the absence of a control group and reliance on descriptive statistical analysis.