Perception of discrimination due to sexual orientation and associated factors among men who have sex with men in 12 Brazilian cities

Abstract

Discrimination due to sexual orientation (DDSO) has an important association with health outcomes among men who have sex with men (MSM). This study aimed to analyze factors associated with DDSO among MSM in 12 Brazilian cities. This is a cross-sectional study with 4,176 MSM participants recruited in 2016 which used a respondent-driven sampling method in 12 Brazilian cities. DDSO levels were previously identified by a latent class analysis based on 13 variables from the discrimination section. An ordinal logistic regression was used to assess associations with these DDSO levels, and weighted ordinal odds ratios (OR) and their respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated using Gile’s estimator. Most participants were young (< 25 years old) black or of mixed-race (pardo), single individuals who had a religious affiliation, primary or incomplete secondary education, and a high and average socioeconomic status. More than half (65%) reported DDSO in the 12 months prior to this study. We observed an independent association among the four latent DDSO classes and the following variables: age < 25 years old (OR = 1.66; 95%CI: 1.21-2.27), white skin color (OR = 1.43; 95%CI: 1.02-2.01), history of sexual (OR = 2.33; 95%CI: 1.58-3.43) and physical violence (OR = 3.08; 95%CI: 2.11-4.49), disclosure of their sexual orientation as MSM to their fathers (OR = 2.00; 95%CI: 1.47-2.72), experienced suicidal ideation in the two weeks prior to this study (OR = 2.09; 95%CI: 1.46-2.98), and use of any illicit drugs in the last six months (OR = 1.61; 95%CI: 1.19-2.18). Our results indicate that contextual factors may contribute to high DDSO levels among MSM in Brazil. Public health policies toward human rights surveillance and protection among MSM must be urgently addressed.

Mortality rates by gender and sexual orientation reveal a disproportionally high mortality among cisgender men of unknown sexual orientation and men who have sex with women in a cohort of people living with HIV in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…In Brazil, a multicity population-based survey of MSM conducted in 2016, found that 65% of the respondents had been discriminated against because of their sexual orientation [25] . Interestingly, a prior survey, conducted in 2009 [26] , with a similar rationale to that of the 2016 study, had reported a much lower frequency of discrimination based on sexual orientation (28%), pointing to an increase in societal conservatism in most recent years, coupled with increased awareness of what constitutes discriminatory acts [27] . Fear of disclosure of sexual orientation delays access to care [28] as suggested in a previous study with PLWH in Brazil that showed cisgender men with unknown sexual orientation had 2.5 times the odds for late presentation relative to MSM [16] .…”

Discriminatory experiences among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men, and transgender and non-binary individuals: a cross sectional analysis

“…Moreover, our sample might overrepresent individuals with higher socioeconomic status, given that access to an electronic device compatible with geosocial network apps and an internet data plan was necessary for study participation. Indeed, if we compare our sample to that reached in the 12-cities respondent-driven-sampling study conducted in 2016 46 we note that our sample was much older (only 9.5% aged <25 years compared to 56.1% in 46 ) and with higher educational level (73.8% reported post-secondary education compared to 29.7% in 46 ). Also, the racial composition of our sample (25.7% Pardo , 12.1% Black) was also much different from the 2016 study 46 (41.8% Pardo, 22.7% Black).…”

“…Indeed, if we compare our sample to that reached in the 12-cities respondent-driven-sampling study conducted in 2016 46 we note that our sample was much older (only 9.5% aged <25 years compared to 56.1% in 46 ) and with higher educational level (73.8% reported post-secondary education compared to 29.7% in 46 ). Also, the racial composition of our sample (25.7% Pardo , 12.1% Black) was also much different from the 2016 study 46 (41.8% Pardo, 22.7% Black).…”

Riscos autopercebido e estimado de contrair o HIV na população jovem

“…A discriminação decorrente da orientação sexual apresenta uma tendência crescente e cada vez mais pulverizada e depende da liderança política e moral ou da falta dela (MAGNO et al, 2021a). Portanto, é preciso responder as lacunas existentes no conhecimento programático sobre o estigma e as categorias de risco vulneráveis, requisitando a incorporação de diferentes abordagens de estigma com apoios psicológicos e sociais em resposta ao HIV (BABEL et al, 2021).…”