title: Stigma, sexual health, and human rights among women who have sex with women in Lesotho.
abstract: In recent years, gender and sexual minorities have become increasingly visible across sub-Saharan Africa, marking both the progression and violation of their human rights. Using data from a study with sexual minorities in Lesotho, this analysis leveraged the social ecological model to examine relationships between stigma, human rights, and sexual health among women who have sex with women in Lesotho. A community-based participatory approach was used for the mixed-method, cross-sectional study. A total of 250 women who have sex with women completed a structured questionnaire, of which 21 participated in a total of three focus group discussions. Stigma was common within and outside the health sector. Stigma and human rights abuses were associated with increased risk for HIV and STIs. Interventions to address stigma at the structural, community, and interpersonal levels are essential to ensuring sexual health and rights for women who have sex with women in Lesotho.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA. Electronic address: tpoteat@jhu.edu.
authors.forename: Tonia C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Poteat
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Carmen H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Logie
authors.affiliation: Research Fellow, Key Populations Program, Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: Darrin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.affiliation: Executive Director, The Matrix Support Group, Maseru, Lesotho.
authors.forename: Tampose
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mothopeng
authors.affiliation: Provincial Officer Northwest, National Religious Association for Social Development, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lebona
authors.affiliation: Mobilisation and Networking Advisor, UNAIDS, Maseru, Lesotho.
authors.forename: Puleng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Letsie
authors.affiliation: Director of Key Populations Program, Center for Public Health and Human Rights, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, USA.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baral
mesh_terms: D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006806:Human Rights / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007927:Lesotho / Q000453:epidemiology; D060728:Reproductive Health; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D000072339:Sexual and Gender Minorities / Q000523:psychology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D057545:Social Stigma
keywords: Lesotho; human rights; mixed methods; sexual health; women who have sex with women