History of Childhood Sexual Abuse and HIV Risk Behaviors in Homosexual and Bisexual Men

• Autores: David J. Brennan, Wendy L. Hellerstedt, Michael W. Ross, Seth L. Welles
• Localización: American journal of public health, ISSN 0090-0036, Vol. 97, Nº. 6, 2007, págs. 1107-1112
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Objectives. We examined the prevalence and frequency of childhood sexual abuse and their association with sexual risk among a sample of gay and bisexual men.Methods. Cross-sectional data were collected by survey from randomly selected gay and bisexual men who attended the 1997 and 1998 Minneapolis/St. Paul Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Festivals. Data included demographics, sexual activity, history of childhood sexual abuse, HIV status, history of sexually transmitted infection, use of sex-related drugs (such as crack, cocaine, Ecstasy, amyl nitrate, crystal methamphetamine, and Special K), and history of exchanging sex for payment.Results. childhood sexual abuse was reported by 15.5% of the survey respondents (n = 134). Those who reported experiencing abuse regularly were more likely to (1) be HIV positive, (2) have exchanged sex for payment, and (3) be a current user of sex-related drugs. Neither unsafe sex nor sexually transmitted infections were associated with childhood sexual abuse.Conclusions. These findings show that more than 1 in 7 gay and bisexual men in a non-clinical, festival-based setting were victims of childhood sexual abuse and that childhood sexual abuse was associated with alarmingly high rates of men who were HIV infected and antecedent risk behaviors.