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AIDS and Behavior
Published in: AIDS and Behavior 1/2015

01-01-2015 | Original Paper

Evidence of the Negative Effect of Sexual Minority Stigma on HIV Testing Among MSM and Transgender Women in San Salvador, El Salvador

Authors: Katherine Andrinopoulos, John Hembling, Maria Elena Guardado, Flor de Maria Hernández, Ana Isabel Nieto, Giovanni Melendez

Published in: AIDS and Behavior | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

A cross sectional survey was administered to 670 men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW) in San Salvador through respondent driven sampling to identify determinants of ever testing for HIV using a minority stress framework. A positive association was found between ever testing and older age [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.10], past experience of sexual assault (aOR 2.92), perceiving that most social acquaintances had tested (aOR 1.81), and knowing a PLHIV (aOR 1.94). A negative association was found between homelessness and ever testing (aOR 0.43). Among the MSM sub-sample (n = 506), similar results were found for older age (aOR 2.63), and past experience of sexual assault (aOR 2.56). Internalized homonegativity was negatively associated with ever testing for HIV among MSM (aOR 0.46), and HIV testing stigma and experienced provider discrimination further strengthened this relationship. It is important to mitigate sexual minority stigma in order to increase HIV testing among MSM. Future research should explore this construct among TW.
Footnotes
1
In this paper we use the term “transgender woman” to refer to a person who identifies their gender as female, but was assigned the male sex at birth [12, p. 12]. Within this group there are individuals who have undergone medical procedures to alter their sexual anatomy and physiology from male to female, or who plan to in the future, as well as people who do not wish to change physically but who identify as female. “Transgender” refers to the person’s gender identity, and is distinct from their sexual orientation.
 
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Metadata
Title
Evidence of the Negative Effect of Sexual Minority Stigma on HIV Testing Among MSM and Transgender Women in San Salvador, El Salvador
Authors
Katherine Andrinopoulos
John Hembling
Maria Elena Guardado
Flor de Maria Hernández
Ana Isabel Nieto
Giovanni Melendez
Publication date
01-01-2015
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
AIDS and Behavior / Issue 1/2015
Print ISSN: 1090-7165
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3254
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-014-0813-0

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