Date of Award

January 2014

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Public Health (MPH)

Department

School of Public Health

First Advisor

Jhumka Gupta

Second Advisor

John E. Pachankis

Abstract

Men who engage in sexual behaviors with other men are at high risk for developing a sexually transmitted infection (STI). They also have reduced access to health care services and poorer health outcomes after developing an STI than their white or higher-income counterparts. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an established risk factor for STI contraction and non-condom use in male-female dyads. Such research on IPV in male-male couples is lacking. The objectives of this study are to document the lifetime prevalence of male-male IPV among an urban, minority community health center-based sample, examine associations between male-male perpetrated IPV and self-reported STI symptomology in the past year, and examine the association of male-male IPV perpetration and lifetime perpetration of forced unprotected sex against another man. We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected through a cross sectional survey of low-income, minority men. We found a lifetime prevalence of IPV perpetration of 58.8%. Nearly 20% of the sample reported ever forcing another man into unprotected sex. One third of the sample (34.1%) reported STI symptoms in the past year. IPV perpetration was highly predictive of perpetration of forced unprotected sex with another man (aOR = 32.3; 95% CI 3.19-328.0). Men reporting perpetration of IPV against another man were more likely to report STI symptoms in the past year (aOR = 4.52; 1.48-13.77). The results of this study provide evidence that male-male IPV is prevalent in low-income, minority populations, and highlights an important physical and mental health burden that is currently under-addressed.

Comments

This is an Open Access Thesis.

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