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Abstract
Evidence of harassment and violence faced by men who have sex with men (MSM) in Mumbai and Thane
A. Qureshi1, V. Pawar2
Background: Few formative researches have explored the evidence of harassment and violence faced by MSM population in Mumbai and Thane. Center for Health Promotion provides technical support to MSM organizations in Mumbai, Thane and other cities in India. The organization also carries out research and studies on issues of health.
Methods: Structured interviews and focus group discussions were carried out with 410 MSM in Mumbai and Thane over a period of three months.
Results: The study explored the incidence and forms of harassment and violence faced by MSM in Mumbai and Thane. The findings revealed that around 98% respondents had faced at least one incidence of any form of harassment or violence in their life time. Around 87% reported harassment in the form of bullying or teasing, while 85% reported verbal abuse by people, police and local goons. Around 41% reported being physically threatened by partners/boyfriends, 37% reported physical threatening at the hands of goons and 23% by police. Another 20% admitted that they were at least once physically assaulted by police or goons in their lifetime. Around 13% respondents reported sexual abuse either at the hands of the police or local goons, while around 30% faced sexual abuse from their partners. An alarming 50% reported emotional violence at the hands of their partner or boyfriend.
Conclusions: There is high incidence of harassment and violence faced by MSM reflecting the stigma attached to their behavior and sexuality. The physical abuse by police and goons was related with the fear of being involved in a tabooed and criminalized sexual behavior. The violence related to partners or boyfriends indicated the vulnerability individual face in relationships. Violence is a form of enacted stigma. Violence in any form increases the risk of HIV infection in the MSM.
AIDS 2008 - XVII International AIDS Conference
Abstract no.
TUPE0628
Suggested Citation
"A.Qureshi, et al.
Evidence of harassment and violence faced by men who have sex with men (MSM) in Mumbai and Thane.
:
AIDS 2008 - XVII International AIDS Conference:
Abstract no.
TUPE0628"
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