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Environment of violence : Exploring risk of violence in LGBT individuals in India
Methods:In-depth, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 25 LGBT persons within ages 18 to 40. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling from a community based LGBT organization in Kolkata, India. Thematic analysis was employed.
Results:Violence was found to be linked to three distinct yet interrelated environments. The physical environment, such as public parks where sexual exchanges often take place, may either provide protection against (by the virtue of visibility and presence of group members) or become sites of violence with sexual partners or the police. Indoor sex venues like massage parlors can become sites of sexual coercion and violence. The social environment, which encourages the stigmatization of same sex behavior and sexual identity within the family, neighborhood and other social groups, becomes a source of emotional and physical violence. The policy environment which supports criminalization of same sex activity perpetuates stigma, encourages police harassment and prevents access to law and order for protection of personal safety.
Conclusion: Identifying specific aspects of the risk environment is vital in designing appropriate interventions to reduce the risk of violence and HIV in LGBT communities.
Learning Areas:
Diversity and culturePlanning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Discuss the various risk factors that interact with each other to accelerate the HIV epidemic in the LGBT population in India.
Identify three aspects of the risk environment that exacerbate violence in the LGBT population in India.
Keyword(s): Violence & Injury Prevention, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT)
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a doctoral student in Social Welfare, at the University of Pennsylvania and have a medical degree(MBBS) from India. I have served as a primary care physician in a community based LGBT support group's clinic in the past. My research interests include barriers to health care access and social determinants of health in sexual minority populations in India and the US.The present abstract is drawn from my research over the last year.
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.