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Ogunbajo A, Oke T, Jin H, Rashidi W, Iwuagwu S, Harper GW, Biello KB, Mimiaga MJ. A syndemic of psychosocial health problems is associated with increased HIV sexual risk among Nigerian gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). AIDS Care 2019; 32:337-342. [PMID: 31608657 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2019.1678722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Nigerian gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) experience negative psychosocial health problems, which may increase their risk for HIV infection. Few studies have explored the syndemic effect of co-occurring psychosocial health problems on HIV sexual risk among Nigerian GBMSM. We investigated the co-occurrence of syndemic psychosocial health problems and their synergistic effect on HIV risk behaviors. We assessed depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol dependence, tobacco use, and hard-drug use. The outcome variables were the number of male sexual partners and consistent condom use. In a multivariable model, experiencing 4 or more psychosocial health problems - compared to experience none or one psychosocial health problem - was significantly associated with increasing number of male sexual partners. We found no statistically significant association between the number of syndemic psychosocial health problems and consistent condom use. Our study findings provides evidence of a synergistic relationship between negative psychosocial health factors and HIV sexual risk behavior. These findings underscore the importance of developing HIV prevention programming aimed at reducing HIV transmission risk that incorporate substance use and mental health treatments, in order to improve the overall health and quality of life for Nigerian GBMSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adedotun Ogunbajo
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA.,Center for Health Equity Research, Brown School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Temitope Oke
- University at Buffalo, State University of New York, School of Social Work, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Harry Jin
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA
| | - William Rashidi
- Equality Triangle for Health and Peoples Development Initiative, Warri, Nigeria
| | | | - Gary W Harper
- Department of Health Behavior & Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Katie B Biello
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA.,Center for Health Equity Research, Brown School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA.,Fenway Health, The Fenway Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthew J Mimiaga
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA.,Center for Health Equity Research, Brown School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA.,Fenway Health, The Fenway Institute, Boston, MA, USA
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