Psychosocial Health Disparities Among Black Bisexual Men in the U.S.: Effects of Sexuality Nondisclosure and Gay Community Support

Abstract Background Criminalization of same-sex relations is a driver of the HIV epidemic. Whilst LGBT activists advocate for social change in sub-Saharan Africa, men who engage in same-sex relations -many of which have sex with women (MSM/W)- face obstacles in all steps of the HIV cascade of care. In Senegal, research on MSM/W has been authorized given their assigned status as a key population in the fight against HIV. In 2018-19, a grounded theory research was done with the aim to understand the health experiences of MSM/W in Dakar. Methods Individual interviews were conducted with 19 MSM/W. Respondents were recruited with the aid of local grassroots. A non-structured life story guide was used to help them recall in chronological order their experiences with healthcare. Results No major constraints in using HIV services were expressed. There were narratives of self-hatred, internalized homophobia, emotional stress, sleep disorders, and low self-esteem. A few mentioned suicidal thoughts. Histories of sexual abuse, and feelings of sexual orientation being passed on by the perpetrators were common. Fear of hatred and violence caused some respondents to pursue heterosexual relationships, and, in a few cases, to resort to spiritual healers to change their sexual identity. In spite of religion being identified as a fueler of stigmatization, many found relief in practicing Islam. Conclusions Findings informed a Training Program on MSM/W Psychosocial Health, which will target 100 healthcare workers in 2020. This study shows that psychosocial health for MSM/W needs to be promoted not just as a component in the Zero HIV Transmission for 2030 efforts. It is time to move from an HIV Care for All MSM to a Wellbeing for All MSM paradigm. Further research on same-sex identities as determinants of diseases other than HIV is needed. Human rights should be at the fore of efforts to build capacities to tackle the psychosocial needs of all MSM/W in Senegal.

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Elderly Health Disparities on the U.S.-México Border

Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology ◽

10.1023/b:jccg.0000015014.30397.ab ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 13-25 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Christie L. Zunker ◽

Julie J. Cummins

Keyword(s):

Health Disparities ◽

Mexico Border ◽

Elderly Health ◽

The U.S

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Australian gay and bisexual men’s online preferences about sex with HIV-positive partners

Sexual Health ◽

10.1071/sh16191 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 221 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Garrett Prestage ◽

Benjamin Bavinton ◽

Denton Callander ◽

Steven P. Philpot ◽

Iryna Zablotska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Safer Sex ◽

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Hiv Positive ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Sex Partners ◽

Hiv Status ◽

Capital Cities ◽

Gay Community ◽

And Bisexual ◽

Hiv Positive Men

Background Among gay and bisexual men (GBM), ‘serosorting’ is common and involves restricting sex, or at least condomless sex, to partners of the same HIV status. The prevalence of men conveying their serosorting preferences regarding partners they meet online remains unclear. Methods: This study reviewed 57 178 Australian online profiles obtained directly from a popular gay website. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with preferences for meeting HIV-positive partners. Results: Men could indicate their preferences from a list of 22 types of partners; 4358 profiles (7.6%) indicated an interest in meeting HIV-positive men. There were 1959 profiles (3.4%) listing a preference for 21 of the 22 types of men, including 1498 men (2.6%) that specifically excluded HIV-positive men. Men who specifically excluded HIV-positive men on their profiles were younger (mean age 34.7 years), less likely to identify as gay (25.6%) and more likely to always prefer ‘safer sex’ (55.3%) than those who specifically included them (mean age 39.6 years; 62.8% gay-identified; 30.9% preferred safer sex; P < 0.001). Men who specifically excluded HIV-positive partners on their profiles were also more likely to live outside major capital cities (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Being younger, living outside major cities, not identifying as gay, always preferring safer sex and either Caucasian or Asian background were associated with excluding HIV-positive men as potential sex partners. These factors may reflect lower social and community engagement with the gay community. The disinclination to include HIV-positive men as potential sex partners may be due to fear of infection, stigma or poor information about HIV.

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