Sexual violence experiences among black gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men and transgender women in South African townships: contributing factors and implications for health

"Diluting Its Value as a Word by Applying It to Everything": A Qualitative Study Exploring Perspectives and Practices of Mindfulness Practitioners

Objective

The aim of this research was to explore the perspective, language, description, and practices of practitioners who identify as using mindfulness techniques for a range of health and clinical conditions.

Methods

This study was guided by a qualitative descriptive methodology. Mindfulness practitioners from a variety of backgrounds that included medical, allied health, complementary and alternative medicine, and traditional Buddhism from across Australia were invited to share their perspectives. Semi-structured interviews were conducted via Zoom, telephone, and face-to-face which were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were thematically analysed.

Results

Sixteen mindfulness practitioners from Australia self-nominated to participate in this study. Overall, the interviews revealed similarities, differences and even disagreements between participants from the different modalities regarding mindfulness. Participants from similar disciplines also reported differing perspectives and nuanced opinions. Differences appeared to stem from both participant background, training, and the overall aims of their practice.

Conclusion

This research highlights the complexities of what constitutes mindfulness. This study has highlighted, across a broad cohort, that for mindfulness practitioners, their beliefs, aims, and practices are varied and influenced by a range of factors including their ideological perspectives. While the diversity and broad application of mindfulness may be one of its strengths, it may also be its weakness as its value may be diluted due to plurality of understanding and multiplicity in use. This requires careful and considered actions from mindfulness stakeholders.

Experiences of Sexual Harassment by Patients among Nurses at the Mental Hospital of West Java Province: A Qualitative Study

Sexual harassment is behavior related to forced sex without the consent of the victim. Incidents of sexual harassment on nurses can be in the form of physical behavior and verbal behavior. The factor of power relations between men and women and the patriarchal culture in Indonesia are the causes of the sexual harassment of mental health nurses, so many incidents of the sexual harassment of women occur. The forms of sexual harassment that occur include kissing, hugging from behind, and verbal abuse related to sex. The purpose of this study was to explore the experience of sexual harassment of psychiatric nurses at the Mental Hospital of West Java Province. This study implemented a qualitative descriptive approach using the NVIVO 12 software application. The sample in this study was 40 psychiatric nurses at the Mental Hospital of West Java Province. The sampling technique in this study was focus group discussions with semi-structured and in-depth interviews. The data analysis in this study used a thematic analysis. This study shows that sexual harassment behavior is carried out by patients in physical and verbal forms. Sexual harassment is mostly carried out by male patients towards female nurses. Meanwhile, sexual harassment took the form of hugging from behind, kissing, naked patients in front of nurses, and disturbing nurses with verbal abuse related to sex. Nurses feel disturbed, afraid, anxious, and shocked by the incidents of sexual harassment committed by patients. Sexual harassment by patients towards nurses causes psychological problems for nurses and causes nurses to want to leave their jobs. Gender adjustment between nurses and patients is a preventive effort to prevent the sexual harassment of nurses. Sexual harassment by patients causes a decrease in the quality of work of nurses in providing nursing care, creating a work environment that is less safe and comfortable.

Syndemic violence victimization, alcohol and drug use, and HIV transmission risk behavior among HIV-negative transgender women in India: A cross-sectional, population-based study

Transgender women globally are disproportionately burdened by HIV. Co-occurring epidemics of adverse psychosocial exposures accelerate HIV sexual risk, including among transgender women; however, studies using additive models fail to examine synergies among psychosocial conditions that define a syndemic. We examined the impact of synergistic interactions among 4 psychosocial exposures on condomless anal sex (CAS) among transgender women in India. A national probability-based sample of 4,607 HIV-negative transgender women completed the Indian Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance survey, 2014-2015. We used linear probability regression and logistic regression to assess 2-, 3-, and 4-way interactions among 4 psychosocial exposures (physical violence, sexual violence, drug use, and alcohol use) on CAS. Overall, 27.3% reported physical and 22.3% sexual violence victimization (39.2% either physical or sexual violence), one-third (33.9%) reported frequent alcohol use and 11.5% illicit drug use. Physical violence was associated with twofold higher odds of CAS in the main effects model. Statistically significant two- and three-way interactions were identified, on both the multiplicative and the additive scales, between physical violence and drug use; physical and sexual violence; physical violence, sexual violence, and alcohol use; and physical violence, alcohol use and drug use. Physical and sexual violence victimization, and alcohol and drug use are highly prevalent and synergistically interact to increase CAS among HIV-negative transgender women in India. Targeted and integrated multilevel initiatives to improve the assessment of psychosocial comorbidities, to combat systemic transphobic violence, and to provide tailored, trauma-informed alcohol and substance use treatment services may reduce HIV risk among transgender women.

Cultural and clinical challenges in sexual health care provision to men who have sex with men in Tanzania: a qualitative study of health professionals' experiences and health students' perspectives

BACKGROUND

Health care providers across sub-Saharan Africa continue to face challenges while delivering sexual health care services. We explored the experiences, views and challenges of health care professionals and health students across different disciplines in Tanzania, towards delivery of sexual health services to men who have sex with men.

METHODS

Utilizing a qualitative approach, we recruited 121 health care professionals (providers) and students from the fields of midwifery, nursing and medicine in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. We conducted 18 focus groups discussions, stratified by profession and experience, to investigate clinical management and challenges while addressing a case of an adult male presenting with rectal gonorrhea.

RESULTS

Findings indicated this case as extremely sensitive, clinical management involved establishing rapport and consent, medical care from history taking to treatment, and referral to other specialties. However, the illegal status of homosexuality in Tanzania was a primary concern to participants, this triggered the clinical care of this case scenario as challenging. There were uncertainties whether or not that such a case should be reported to the authorities.

CONCLUSION

Findings from this study revealed a need for training health students in Tanzania to address sexual health issues including accurate information on homosexuality, reporting requirements and clinical management in the legal and socio-cultural context of the African continent.