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311994
Sexual assault and HIV-related risk behaviors among MSM and transgender women in San Salvador, El Salvador
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
: 8:30 AM - 8:45 AM
John Hembling, MPH
,
Global Health Systems and Development, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA
Katherine Andrinopoulos, MHS, PhD
,
Department of Global Health Systems and Development, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA
Maria Elena Guardado, MD
,
TEPHINET, Inc, Guatemala City, Guatemala
Flor de Maria Hernandez Ayala, MD
,
TEPHINET, Inc., Guatemala City, Guatemala
BACKGROUND: Sexual assault has been commonly reported in surveys of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women globally. Outside of the U.S., little is known about sexual assault and related HIV risk behaviors among these populations. This study describes the demographic factors related to sexual assault among MSM and transgender women in San Salvador, El Salvador. It also assesses its potential associations with HIV/STI-related outcomes within these populations. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey using respondent driven sampling (RDS) was conducted among MSM and transgender women in San Salvador (n=670). Multivariate logistic regression was used to characterize demographic correlates of sexual abuse and to identify potential associations with HIV/STI risk factors. RESULTS: Lifetime sexual abuse was reported by 20.9% (95% CI 17.1-25.0) of MSM and transgender women. The odds of sexual assault were higher among those reporting past-month homelessness, transgender women (compared to MSM), and those self-identifying as gay (vs. bisexual or heterosexual). Sexual assault was positively associated with drug use at last sex (aOR: 2.83, p<0.05), past-month drug use (aOR: 2.47, p<0.01), past-year sex work (aOR: 2.96, p<0.001), and suicide ideation (aOR: 4.01, p<0.001) after controlling for socio-demographics and other factors. Sexual assault was not associated with consistent condom use or multiple partners. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple HIV-related behaviors were associated with lifetime sexual violence victimization, which was experienced by over one-fifth of MSM and transgender women in San Salvador. HIV prevention interventions should be targeted to MSM and transgender women who experience sexual abuse.
Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Public health or related research
Learning Objectives:
Describe socio-demographic factors associated with sexual abuse among MSM and transgender women in San Salvador, El Salvador.
Identify 3 HIV/STI risk behaviors with which sexual abuse is associated.
Keyword(s): Sexual Assault, HIV Risk Behavior
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have a MPH and am a current PhD student at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. I am also full-time technical staff on the USAID MEASURE Evaluation Project and have worked for over 12 years on public health issues in Central America and in Mexico.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines,
and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed
in my presentation.
