Sexual Violence against Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women in Mongolia: A Mixed-Methods Study of Scope and Consequences

The role of sexual violence in health and human rights-related outcomes, including HIV, is receiving increasing attention globally, yet the prevalence, patterns, and correlates of sexual violence have been little-studied among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women in low and middle income countries. 

A mixed-methods study with quantitative and qualitative phases was conducted among MSM and transgender women in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Methods included respondent-driven sampling (RDS) with structured socio-behavioral surveys (N = 313) as well as qualitative methods including 30 in-depth interviews and 2 focus group discussions. 

Forced sex in the last three years was reported by 14.7% of respondents in the quantitative phase. A descriptive typology of common scenarios was constructed based on the specific incidents of sexual violence shared by respondents in the qualitative phase (37 incidents across 28 interviews and 2 focus groups). Eight major types of sexual violence were identified, most frequent of which were bias-motivated street violence and alcohol-involved party-related violence. 

Many vulnerabilities to and consequences of sexual violence described during the qualitative phase were also independently associated with forced sex, including alcohol use at least once per week (AOR = 3.39, 95% CI:1.69-6.81), and having received payment for sex (AOR = 2.77, 95% CI:1.14-6.75). Building on the promising strategies used in other settings to prevent and respond to sexual violence, similar strengthening of legal and social sector responses may provide much needed support to survivors and prevent future sexual violence.

Below:  Descriptive typology of sexual violence against MSM

Via:  http://ht.ly/SXYY1  Full article at:  http://goo.gl/EPG9Km

By: Peitzmeier SM1, Yasin F2, Stephenson R3, Wirtz AL4, Delegchoimbol A5, Dorjgotov M6, Baral S1.

• 1Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
• 2Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America; Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America.
• 3University of Michigan School of Nursing, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America.
• 4Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America; Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America.
• 5UNAIDS Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
• 6Youth For Health NGO, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. 

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Changing Patterns of HIV Epidemic in 30 Years in East Asia

Via http://ht.ly/v976v

Abstract

The HIV epidemic in East Asia started relatively late compared to the rest of the world. All countries or areas, except for North Korea, had reported HIV and AIDS cases, with China being the major contributor to the epidemic. Though initially driven by injecting drug use in China, East Asia did not experience an explosive spread. Strong commitment in China and early harm reduction programs in Taiwan managed to reduce transmission substantially among injecting drug users. In contrast to China and Taiwan, injection drug use has accounted just a little, if not at all, for the spread of HIV in other East Asian counties. However, following a global trend, sexual contact has become a major route of infection across the region. While much progress has been achieved in this region, with the epidemic among other key populations relatively stable, the emerging epidemic through sex between men is a growing concern. Recent estimates suggest that HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) has reached 6.3 % in China, 7.5 % in Mongolia, and ranges between 8.1 %-10.7 % in Taiwan and between 2.7 %- 6.5 % in South Korea. In Japan, 74 % of male HIV cases were among MSM in 2012, while Hong Kong has witnessed a sharp increase of HIV cases among MSM since 2004. There is urgent need to address issues of discrimination and stigma toward homosexuality, and to strengthen the strategies to reach and care for this population.