Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Perceived Source of Infection Among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) and Transgender Women (TW) Recently Diagnosed with HIV and/or STI in Lima, Peru

Abstract

Risk perception and health behaviors result from individual-level factors influenced by specific partnership contexts. We explored individual- and partner-level factors associated with partner-specific perceptions of HIV/STI risk among 372 HIV/STI-positive MSM and transgender women (TW) in Lima, Peru. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) explored participants’ perception of their three most recent partner(s) as a likely source of their HIV/STI diagnosis. Homosexual/gay (PR = 2.07; 95% CI 1.19-3.61) or transgender (PR = 2.84; 95% CI 1.48-5.44) partners were more likely to be considered a source of infection than heterosexual partners. Compared to heterosexual respondents, gay and TW respondents were less likely to associate their partner with HIV/STI infection, suggesting a cultural link between gay or TW identity and perceived HIV/STI risk. Our findings demonstrate a need for health promotion messages tailored to high-risk MSM partnerships addressing how perceived HIV/STI risk aligns or conflicts with actual transmission risks in sexual partnerships and networks.

Individual and partnership factors associated with anticipated versus actual partner notification following STI diagnosis among men who have sex with men and/or with transgender women in Lima, Peru

“…3 Formative research, conducted largely in 2011–2012, detailed the acceptability of new PN tools, 4 and explored perceived source of STIs among STI-diagnosed MSM. 5 Our recent mixed-methods analysis found anticipated PN more likely for main partners and for non-HIV STIs. 6 However, anticipated behaviour is influenced by social desirability bias, and practices may change post diagnosis.…”

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Perceived Risk of HIV Scale in Brazilian Portuguese

“…Studies suggests that cultural constructions of sexuality influence an individual’s perception of HIV risk and vulnerability [ 36 ]. In an analysis of individual- and partner-level factors associated with partner-specific perceptions of risk among GBM and TGW who had recently acquired HIV infection, both gay or transgender partners were more likely to be considered a source of infection than heterosexual partners [ 37 ]. These findings suggest a latent cultural logic that identifies GBM or TGW as “carriers of HIV disease” [ 36 ] independent of their actual objective risk of acquiring or transmitting HIV.…”

Personal and Lifestyle Determinants of HIV Transmission Risk in Spanish University Students

“…Regarding gay or bisexual people, men who have sex with men (MSM) have been demonstrated to be at particularly higher risk of exposure and acquisition of HIV than men who have sex with men and women [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. This risk is fundamentally based on the sexual risk practices that they carry out and the perception of the lower importance of condom use, minimizing the risk of transmission [ 12 , 13 ].…”