title: Associations between intimate partner violence and health among men who have sex with men: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intimate partner violence (IPV) among men who have sex with men (MSM) is a significant problem. Little is known about the association between IPV and health for MSM. We aimed to estimate the association between experience and perpetration of IPV, and various health conditions and sexual risk behaviours among MSM.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We searched 13 electronic databases up to 23 October 2013 to identify research studies reporting the odds of health conditions or sexual risk behaviours for MSM experiencing or perpetrating IPV. Nineteen studies with 13,797 participants were included in the review. Random effects meta-analyses were performed to estimate pooled odds ratios (ORs). Exposure to IPV as a victim was associated with increased odds of substance use (OR = 1.88, 95% CI(OR) 1.59-2.22, I² = 46.9%, 95% CI(I)² 0%-78%), being HIV positive (OR = 1.46, 95% CI(OR) 1.26-1.69, I² = 0.0%, 95% CI(I)² 0%-62%), reporting depressive symptoms (OR = 1.52, 95% CI(OR) 1.24-1.86, I² = 9.9%, 95% CI(I)² 0%-91%), and engagement in unprotected anal sex (OR = 1.72, 95% CI(OR) 1.44-2.05, I² = 0.0%, 95% CI(I)² 0%-68%). Perpetration of IPV was associated with increased odds of substance use (OR = 1.99, 95% CI(OR) 1.33-2.99, I² = 73.1%). These results should be interpreted with caution because of methodological weaknesses such as the lack of validated tools to measure IPV in this population and the diversity of recall periods and key outcomes in the identified studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MSM who are victims of IPV are more likely to engage in substance use, suffer from depressive symptoms, be HIV positive, and engage in unprotected anal sex. MSM who perpetrate IPV are more likely to engage in substance use. Our results highlight the need for research into effective interventions to prevent IPV in MSM, as well as the importance of providing health care professionals with training in how to address issues of IPV among MSM and the need to raise awareness of local and national support services.
authors.affiliation: Gender Violence and Health Centre, Department of Global Health and Development, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Buller
authors.affiliation: Gender Violence and Health Centre, Department of Global Health and Development, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Devries
authors.affiliation: Section of Women's Mental Health and King's Health Partners Women's Health Academic Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Louise M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Howard
authors.affiliation: Gender Violence and Health Centre, Department of Global Health and Development, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Loraine J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bacchus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D012747:Sexual Partners; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult