Homophobia and heteronormativity as dimensions of stigma that influence sexual risk behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) and women (MSMW) in Lima, Peru: a mixed-methods analysis

Using an extended information-motivation-behavioral skills model to explain HPV vaccination intention among men who have sex with men only and men who have sex with men and women

Men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) have been reported to differ in psychosocial and sexual behavior patterns from men who have sex with men only (MSMO). However, results regarding the differences in HPV vaccination intention/behavior were inconclusive. We compared HPV vaccination intention between MSMO and MSMW and analyzed the differences in potentially associated factors in China. MSM participants were recruited online using a snowball sampling method. Cross-sectional data were collected via a questionnaire based on the extended information-motivation-behavioral skills model. Structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the relationship between the variables, followed by multi-group analysis to test differences between groups. Of 914 MSM, 77.68% were MSMO and 22.32% were MSMW. MSMW had a higher rate of reluctance to vaccinate than MSMO (23.53% vs. 16.20%, p = .016). Differences between the two groups were statistically significant in risky sexual behavior, behavioral skills, and promotional attitude. In both groups, promotional attitude was the most significant predictor of vaccination intention. Vaccination intention was directly influenced by motivation and indirectly by risky sexual behavior in MSMO, but not significantly in MSMW. Additionally, the direct effect of information on behavioral skills in MSMW was significantly greater than that in MSMO, but we did not find any effect of behavioral skills on vaccination intention. MSMW had lower vaccination intention than MSMO. MSMO may be influenced by risky sexual behavior and motivation, positively impacting their vaccination intention, unlike MSMW. Targeted strategies could help promote HPV vaccination, especially in MSMW.

HIV Risk Behaviors and the Use of Geosocial Networking Dating Apps among Men Who have Sex with Men and Transgender Women in Lima, Peru: a Cross-Sectional Study

Geosocial networking dating apps (GSN apps) are an increasingly widespread technology used by populations throughout the world to facilitate sexual encounters. Studies from a variety of settings suggest a possible association between GSN app use and HIV risk behaviors, including among sexual and gender minority populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW). However, it remains unclear to what extent GSN apps play a causal role. We explored the relationship between GSN app use and sexual risk behaviors among MSM and TW in Lima, Peru by analyzing data from a multi-site cross-sectional survey assessing both general and partner-specific sexual behaviors. We performed bivariate analysis to estimate the association of GSN app use with different individual and partner-specific factors, then fit multivariable regression models adjusting for age and education. Among 741 total participants (698 MSM, 43 TW), 64% met at least one sex partner in the prior three months using a GSN app. GSN app users were significantly more likely to report engaging in HIV risk behaviors in general, including condomless receptive anal sex, group sex, transactional sex, and sex under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Having condomless anal sex with a given partner was not associated with meeting that partner via GSN app. These findings highlight GSN app users as a particularly vulnerable subpopulation among MSM and TW in Lima. GSN apps could provide a useful vehicle for targeted HIV prevention efforts for priority populations in Peru.

"It's a Lot of Closets to Come Out of in This Life": Experiences of Brazilian Gay Men Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus at the Time of Diagnosis and Its Biopsychosocial Impacts

We investigated the experiences of Brazilian gay men with HIV, focusing on the moment of diagnosis and its potential biopsychosocial impacts. This clinical-qualitative study involved 15 participants interviewed online and synchronously by a clinical psychologist in 2021. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. Interpretations were grounded in Minority Stress Theory. Four thematic axes emerged, including "Diagnostic Revelation", "Social and Internalized Stigma", "Biopsychosocial Effects of Living with HIV", and "Gratitude for Treatment Advances and the Brazilian Health System". The diagnosis was often experienced as traumatic, exacerbated by the absence of empathy and emotional support from healthcare providers. Participants commonly reported guilt, fear upon learning of their HIV status, social isolation, loneliness, lack of social support, and damage to affective-sexual relationships. Many also noted a decline in mental health, even those without HIV-related medical complications. Despite over 40 years since the HIV epidemic began, the prevalence of homophobia and serophobia among gay men remains widespread, including within the multidisciplinary teams of specialized services. This indicates that the stigma associated with homosexuality and HIV persists, despite significant biomedical progress in the diagnosis and treatment of the infection, particularly in Brazil.

'I turn to my closest friends for support': queer youth navigating mental health during COVID-19

The objectives of this in-depth qualitative study were to identify how COVID-19 impacted the mental health experiences of queer youth in Vancouver, Canada. Between November 2020 and June 2021, fifteen queer youth aged 15 to 25 were enrolled in the study. They participated in semi-weekly, solicited digital diary entries and semi-structured intake and follow-up interviews about COVID-19, social distancing protocols, and mental health. Using thematic analysis, two major themes were identified. First, participants described how COVID-19 impacted social support by highlighting the limitations of their existing social networks and feelings of disconnect from others in the local queer community. Second, participants described how public health guidance and the offloading of responsibility for COVID-19 risk-management onto the individual was a significant source of anxiety and stress, and how they moralised the struggle to balance compliance with the desire to connect with others. These findings highlight the need to understand the negative mental health outcomes arising from moralising approaches to public health that offload risk-management onto the individual, isolate queer youth, and hamper their identity-development processes.

Development and validation of a risk score for predicting inconsistent condom use with women among men who have sex with men and women

BACKGROUND

Men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) are the most important bridge population for HIV transmission. Condom use plays an important role for HIV infection. However the predictors for condom ues with females are not well characterized.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study. Participants were enrolled by four community-based organizations (CBOs) by offline (bathrooms, bars), and online (gay applications, chat room) from April to December 2019. Electronic questionnare was fulfilled after a face-to-face training led by CBOs. We identified predictors of inconsistent condom use with females by creating a risk score based on regression coefficients. We externally validated this score via an independent cross-sectional survey conducted in Zhejiang Province in 2021. A total of 917, 615 MSMW were included in analysis in 2019 and 2021, seperately.

RESULTS

Among 917 MSMW, 73.2% reported heterosexual behavior in the prior 6 months and 38.3% reported inconsistent condom use with females (ICUF) over that time. Compared with heterosexual/unsure MSMW, bisexual MSMW reported more male and female sex partners, higher proportion of inconsistent condom use with males, less commercial sex with males (p < 0.05). Four risky predictors of ICUF were identified: Duration of local residence ≦6 months; more than one male partner in the prior 6 months; inconsistent condom use with males in the prior 6 months; and never heard post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). The proportions of respondents indicating ICUF in the low- (0), medium- (2-4) and high-risk (6-20) groups (according to our risk scoring system) were 11.7% (14/120), 26.9% (96/357), and 78.1% (125/160), respectively (P_trend < 0.001). In the validation survey, the respective proportions of those reporting ICUF were 13.4% (15/112), 17.8% (24/185) and 87.3% (96/110) (P_trend < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

We developed and validated a predictive risk score for ICUF among MSMW; four factors were identified, of which inconsistent condom use with men was the most important. Risk reduction intervention programs should focus on MSM who report inconsistent condom use with males, never heard PEP, having multiple partners and living in local less than 6 months.

'Bending' against straightening devices: queer lived experiences of sexuality and sexual health in Bangladesh

BACKGROUND

Despite global data around increased health risks among sexual and gender diverse populations, lived experiences of young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and others (LGBTQ+) people are often ignored in mainstream health research. This is particularly evident in countries such as Bangladesh where the rights of sexual minorities are not recognised. This article looks at queer lived experiences of sexuality and sexual health within such a context. We use the phenomenological framework of heteronormative 'straightening devices' - mechanisms working to direct people towards heterosexuality, gender conformity, and procreative marriage - to identify 'invisible' structures upholding normative sexual behaviours and see how young people in Bangladesh navigate these in their everyday lives.

METHODS

This article is based on qualitative data collected in Dhaka, Bangladesh over nine months in 2019 as part of the first author's doctoral research. Using thematic analysis, we draw on experiences of normative sexual expectations from biographical in-depth interviews with 14 purposively sampled LGBTQ + individuals aged 18 to 24.

RESULTS

Respondents identified heteronormative expectations around gender norms of traditional behaviour and presentation for men and women as well as parental expectations of compulsory heterosexuality through marriage. These straightening devices existed at multiple levels, including individual, interpersonal, community, and societal. The four main themes around straightening devices include marriage norms for women; harassment of feminine-presenting bodies in public spaces; heteronormative healthcare; and consequences of not embodying heteronormativity.

CONCLUSION

Our study highlighted young people's everyday experiences of having to 'bend' to - and against - heteronormative straightening devices at home, in public spaces, and within institutions such as healthcare in Bangladesh. The exploration of queer experiences provides new insights into context-specific ways in which sexual and gender diverse people understand themselves. Further research using the framework of straightening devices can help public health professionals to identify more 'barriers' confronted by sexual and gender diverse young people.

Prevalence and risk factors for transactional sex among Swedish-born and foreign-born MSM in Sweden

BACKGROUND

Little is known about transactional sex (TS) (selling and buying sex) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Sweden, especially among foreign-born MSM. This study aims to assess the prevalence and risk factors of TS (ever and in the previous five years) among MSM living in Sweden and to determine if there is a difference between Swedish-born MSM and foreign-born MSM.

METHODS

Swedish data from a multicountry online banner survey (EMIS-2017) was used (n = 4443). Multivariable regression analysis was applied to analyse the data.

RESULTS

The prevalence of ever-selling sex among all MSM participants was 13.2% and 5.9% in the previous five years. Selling sex ever and in the previous five years was higher among foreign-born MSM (16% and 8.4%, respectively) than Swedish-born MSM (12.7% and 5.4%, respectively). Among all participants, younger age (aOR:3.19, 95% CI:1.57-6.45) and really struggling to live on current income (aOR:3.37, 95% CI:2.29-4.96) increased the odds of selling sex. Being foreign-born MSM (aOR:1.33, 95% CI:1.02-1.73) and having had sex with a woman in the previous 12 months increased the odds of selling sex (aOR:1.44, 95% CI:1.00-2.07). The prevalence of ever buying sex among MSM participants in Sweden was 10.8% and 6.7% in the previous five years, with the same trend among foreign-born MSM (11.6% and 6.9%, respectively) and Swedish-born MSM (10.7% and 6.6%, respectively). Higher education and not having a current partner increased the odds of buying sex. Younger age was protective for buying sex (aOR:0.05, 95% CI:0.02-0.14). Among the foreign-born MSM, the length of stay in Sweden decreased the odds of buying sex (aOR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.96-0.99).

CONCLUSIONS

The comparatively high prevalence of TS among MSM participants in Sweden, where buying sex is illegal, with a higher prevalence among foreign-born MSM participants, calls for sexual and reproductive health and rights interventions in this population. Increased attention, including HIV prevention programming and education, should be aimed at younger MSM, MSM struggling with their current income, and foreign-born MSM, as they are more likely to report selling sex.

Integrating HIV and mental health interventions to address a global syndemic among men who have sex with men

In this Series paper, we review evidence on the co-occurring and synergistic epidemics (syndemic) of HIV and mental health problems worldwide among men who have sex with men (MSM). The multilevel determinants of this global syndemic include structural factors that enable stigma, systematic bias, and violence towards MSM across geographical and cultural contexts. Cumulative exposure to these factors over time results in population-level inequities in the burden of HIV infections and mental health problems among MSM. Evidence for this syndemic among MSM is strongest in the USA, Canada, western Europe, and parts of Asia and Latin America, with emerging evidence from sub-Saharan Africa. Integrated interventions are needed to address syndemics of HIV and mental health problems that challenge the wellbeing of MSM populations worldwide, and such interventions should consider various mental health conditions (eg, depression, anxiety, trauma, and suicidality) and their unique expressions and relationships with HIV outcomes depending on cultural contexts. In addition, interventions should identify and intervene with locally relevant structural factors that result in HIV and mental health vulnerabilities among MSM.

Let's Talk About Sex: The Impact of Partnership Contexts on Communication About HIV Serostatus and Condom Use Among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) and Transgender Women (TW) in Lima, Peru

Sexual communication with partners informs risk assessment and sexual practices. We evaluated participant, partner, and network factors associated with communication about condom use and HIV serostatus and explored their relationships with condomless anal intercourse (CAI) among 446 men who have sex with men (MSM) and 122 transgender women (TW) in Lima, Peru. Generalized estimating equations assessed contextual influences on communication and practices with recent sexual partners. More frequent HIV communication was reported by MSM who: identified as heterosexual, compared to bisexual or gay; characterized partnerships as stable, compared to casual, anonymous, or commercial; or discussed HIV/STIs with close social contacts (p < 0.05). TW in concurrent partnerships discussed condom use more frequently than those in monogamous relationships (p < 0.05). Condom use discussions and alcohol use among MSM were associated with CAI (p < 0.05). Findings highlight complexity in sexual decision-making and call for further study of conversation content and practices to inform HIV prevention messaging.

Homophobia and mental health: a scourge of modern era

Homophobia is still a scourge in the modern era. Despite a greater acceptance of sexual variations and same-sex marriage in many countries, homophobia is widely sustained by religious, political and cultural values and beliefs at individual and social level. Most of homophobic attitudes are based on the principle of heteronormativity according to which heterosexuality is the standard for legitimating social and sexual relationships and homosexuality is considered as an abnormal variant. Homophobia may be also recognised at institutional level (state-sponsored homophobia, social homophobia) and supported by laws or religious beliefs. Moreover, internalised homophobia (IH) is defined as the inward direction of societal homophobic behaviours at individual level and refers to the subjective psychological impact of these negative attitudes. In fact, IH is significantly associated with a high prevalence of internalising mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, stress/trauma-related disorders, etc. We believe that a set of immediate actions are needed in order to contrast homophobia and its impact on mental health, in particular political initiatives, educational trainings and scientific research should be promoted with a specific focus on mental health needs of people target of homophobia.

Sexual Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex With Men: The Need for More Targeted Outreach to Men Who Also Have Sex With Cisgender Women

BACKGROUND

In Peru, as in the Americas overall, men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV. Most research focuses on practices between cisgender men, whereas many MSM report male and female partners, cisgender, transgender, or both.

METHODS

Data for these analyses were from a treatment-as-prevention study in Lima (the Sabes study). We compared demographics and behaviors of MSM who reported cisgender women partners in the past 3 months (MSMW) and MSM who reported both cisgender and transgender women partners (MSMW-T) to MSM who reported only male partners (MSMO). We calculated HIV incidence in each group during 2-year follow-up.

RESULTS

Compared with MSMO, MSMW and MSMW-T more often self-identify as heterosexual or bisexual and report insertive sex practices. MSMW reported condomless sex with cisgender women: vaginal (72%), anal sex (18%). One-third of MSMW reported condomless receptive anal sex with men in the past 3 months, with 24% of MSMW overall who reported both condomless receptive sex with men and condomless insertive vaginal or anal sex with cisgender women. Of these, 17% were HIV infected. HIV incidence did not differ significantly between groups.

CONCLUSION

Most MSMW and MSMW-T report bisexual or heterosexual orientation and prefer insertive sex. MSMW and MSMW-T (47% and 29%, respectively) engage in receptive anal intercourse. In both groups, the majority who engaged in condomless receptive sex with men (76% MSMW, 85% MSMW-T) also engaged in condomless vaginal and/or anal sex with women, indicating need for intervention.

To Disclose, Not Disclose, or Conceal: A Qualitative Study of HIV-Positive Men with Multiple Concealable Stigmatized Identities

People living with HIV (PLHW) and other concealable stigmatized identities (CSIs) face continual decisions about the degree of openness they are willing to allow for their identities in different social contexts. Disclosing or concealment of CSIs describes potential stigma management strategies that may have distinct psychosocial consequences. This study aimed to examine disclosure processes in a sample of sexual minority men (SMM) with intersecting CSIs, who use substances and were suboptimally engaged in HIV care. Interviews (N = 33) were initially double coded following thematic analysis, which identified disclosure as a theme. Subsequently, content analysis and additional selective double coding were used to iteratively identify and refine subthemes related to disclosure decisions. Illustrative quotes and frequencies of the invoked subthemes and identities were recorded for each participant. The majority of participants discussed experiences of disclosure and nondisclosure (N = 31, 94%). Among these, a spectrum of related behaviors and preferences emerged, including active disclosure, passive disclosure, passive nondisclosure, and concealment. Across disclosure-related content, in addition to HIV status, the majority of participants also described navigating decisions about disclosure of sexual orientation (71%), substance use (61%), and multiple identities at once (55%). Findings from this study highlight the fluid and multi-dimensional nature of identity-related disclosure processes in SMM with multiple CSIs. Participants in this study possessed interlocking stigmatized identities and described being varying degrees of "out" across identities and time. Moreover, these findings challenge common beliefs that disclosure is a binary construct associated with positive gain.