TY - JOUR
T1 - Stigma, discrimination, violence, and HIV testing among men who have sex with men in four major cities in Ghana
AU - Gyamerah, Akua O.
AU - Taylor, Kelly D.
AU - Atuahene, Kyeremeh
AU - Anarfi, John K.
AU - Fletcher, Michelle
AU - Raymond, Henry F.
AU - McFarland, Willi
AU - Dodoo, F. Nii Amoo
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by the U.S.President Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Ghana Country Office under the terms of Cooperative Agreement Number 5U2GPS001469-03. The first author was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (T32 MH19105). We would like to thank the following. The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) for leading the charge for this important work. The Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), both affiliated with the University of Ghana, Legon, for partnering with the GAC in carrying out the survey. The West Africa Project to Combat AIDS and STIs (WAPCAS), Maritime Life Precious Foundation (MARITIME), Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights, Ghana (CEPEHRG) and MICDAK for their support provided for community entry and mobilization. This research has been supported by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Ghana Country Office under the terms of Cooperative Agreement Number 5U2GPS001469-03. Dr. Gyamerah was supported by the National Institutes of Health (T32 MH19105).
Funding Information:
We would like to thank the following. The Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) for leading the charge for this important work. The Regional Institute for Population Studies (RIPS) and the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), both affiliated with the University of Ghana, Legon, for partnering with the GAC in carrying out the survey. The West Africa Project to Combat AIDS and STIs (WAPCAS), Maritime Life Precious Foundation (MARITIME), Centre for Popular Education and Human Rights, Ghana (CEPEHRG) and MICDAK for their support provided for community entry and mobilization. This research has been supported by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Ghana Country Office under the terms of Cooperative Agreement Number 5U2GPS001469-03. Dr. Gyamerah was supported by the National Institutes of Health (T32 MH19105).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, © 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2020/8/2
Y1 - 2020/8/2
N2 - LGBTQ populations experience human rights abuses worldwide; data need to document the health impact of these experiences in Africa. In Ghana, we measured events of sexuality-based stigma, discrimination, and violence among men who have sex with men (MSM) and the impact on HIV testing behavior. Data are from respondent-driven sampling surveillance surveys in Accra/Tema, Kumasi, Cape Coast/Takoradi, and Koforidua. Discrimination was common among MSM: 6.2%–30.6% were refused services, 29.0%–48.9% experienced verbal/symbolic violence, 2.8%–12.8% experienced physical violence, 12.3%-30.0% experienced sexual violence due to their sexuality in the preceding year. MSM who experienced sexual violence in their first male sexual encounter were less likely to ever test for HIV in Accra/Tema and Cape Coast/Takoradi. Further studies are needed to examine the impact of stigma and violence on MSM's HIV health-seeking behavior in Ghana. Structural interventions are needed to mitigate the consequences of stigma and discrimination on MSM health and well-being.
AB - LGBTQ populations experience human rights abuses worldwide; data need to document the health impact of these experiences in Africa. In Ghana, we measured events of sexuality-based stigma, discrimination, and violence among men who have sex with men (MSM) and the impact on HIV testing behavior. Data are from respondent-driven sampling surveillance surveys in Accra/Tema, Kumasi, Cape Coast/Takoradi, and Koforidua. Discrimination was common among MSM: 6.2%–30.6% were refused services, 29.0%–48.9% experienced verbal/symbolic violence, 2.8%–12.8% experienced physical violence, 12.3%-30.0% experienced sexual violence due to their sexuality in the preceding year. MSM who experienced sexual violence in their first male sexual encounter were less likely to ever test for HIV in Accra/Tema and Cape Coast/Takoradi. Further studies are needed to examine the impact of stigma and violence on MSM's HIV health-seeking behavior in Ghana. Structural interventions are needed to mitigate the consequences of stigma and discrimination on MSM health and well-being.
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U2 - 10.1080/09540121.2020.1757020
DO - 10.1080/09540121.2020.1757020
M3 - Article
C2 - 32362131
AN - SCOPUS:85084503980
SN - 0954-0121
VL - 32
SP - 1036
EP - 1044
JO - AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
JF - AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
IS - 8
ER -
