Sexual identity and its contribution to MSM risk behavior in Bangaluru (Bangalore), India: the results of a two-stage cluster sampling survey.
In India, there are categories of MSM (hijras, kothis, double-deckers, panthis and bisexuals), which are generally associated with different HIV-risk behaviors. Our objective was to quantify differences across MSM identities (n = 357) and assess the extent they conform to typecasts that prevail in policy-orientated discourse. More feminine kothis (26%) and hijras (13%) mostly reported receptive sex, and masculine panthis (15%) and bisexuals (23%) insertive anal sex. However, behavior did not always conform to expectation, with 25% and 16% of the sample reporting both insertive and receptive anal intercourse with known and unknown noncommercial partners, respectively (p < 0.000). Although behavior often complied with stereotyped role and identity, male-with-male sexual practices were fluid. Reification of these categories in an intervention context may hinder our understanding of the differential HIV risk among MSM.
Phillips
A E
AE
Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College, St Mary Hospital, London, UK. a.phillips05@imperial.ac.uk
Boily
M C
MC
Lowndes
C M
CM
Garnett
G P
GP
Gurav
K
K
Ramesh
B M
BM
Anthony
J
J
Watts
R
R
Moses
S
S
Alary
M
M
D000328:Adult; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005783:Gender Identity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006306:Health Surveys; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D011477:Sex Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior