Sexual health problems and health-seeking behavior of men who have sex with men in Agra City, Uttar Pradesh
Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk of acquiring sexually transmitted illnesses. The gross stigmatization of homosexuality and discrimination has always affected their health-seeking behavior. Objectives: The study aimed to assess the magnitude of sexual health problems, fac...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Indian Journal of Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.ijph.in/article.asp?issn=0019-557X;year=2021;volume=65;issue=2;spage=142;epage=146;aulast=Aqeel |
| _version_ | 1828913299170787328 |
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| author | Khan Iqbal Aqeel S S Chaudhary S K Misra Geetu Singh Prashant Lavania |
| author_facet | Khan Iqbal Aqeel S S Chaudhary S K Misra Geetu Singh Prashant Lavania |
| author_sort | Khan Iqbal Aqeel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk of acquiring sexually transmitted illnesses. The gross stigmatization of homosexuality and discrimination has always affected their health-seeking behavior. Objectives: The study aimed to assess the magnitude of sexual health problems, factors associated, and their health-seeking behavior. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Agra city, Uttar Pradesh during December 2017 and November 2019 among a sample of 52 MSM. The Snowball technique of sampling was used to recruit the eligible subjects. Data were collected by interview and analyzed using MS excel. Results: Overall prevalence of any sexual health problem in past 1 year was 71.2%. Anal/perianal problems (26.9%) and genital/oral vesicles (26.9%) were the most commonly encountered illnesses MSM who had all their sexual encounters with men (completely homosexual), those MSM who used to play both insertive and receptive roles, had 5 or more sexual partners, used condom irregularly had significantly higher chances of having sexual health problems. Most (70.3%) MSM sought treatment for their sexual health problem from an Allopathic doctor; 29.4% took treatment from a government health facility. The majority (94.1%) of them were reportedly satisfied with the health care facility. Most (79.4%) respondents preferred not to disclose their sexual behavior during interaction with their sexual health care provider. Conclusion: High prevalence of sexual health problems was found among MSM who engage in high-risk sexual behavior. MSM requires access to STIs screening. Behavior change communication is needed to improve their health-seeking behavior. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:34:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d4ab901cacba4ee088c45d90f7a1850f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0019-557X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T19:34:39Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Indian Journal of Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-d4ab901cacba4ee088c45d90f7a1850f2022-12-21T23:33:51ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Public Health0019-557X2021-01-0165214214610.4103/ijph.IJPH_1066_20Sexual health problems and health-seeking behavior of men who have sex with men in Agra City, Uttar PradeshKhan Iqbal AqeelS S ChaudharyS K MisraGeetu SinghPrashant LavaniaBackground: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at high risk of acquiring sexually transmitted illnesses. The gross stigmatization of homosexuality and discrimination has always affected their health-seeking behavior. Objectives: The study aimed to assess the magnitude of sexual health problems, factors associated, and their health-seeking behavior. Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Agra city, Uttar Pradesh during December 2017 and November 2019 among a sample of 52 MSM. The Snowball technique of sampling was used to recruit the eligible subjects. Data were collected by interview and analyzed using MS excel. Results: Overall prevalence of any sexual health problem in past 1 year was 71.2%. Anal/perianal problems (26.9%) and genital/oral vesicles (26.9%) were the most commonly encountered illnesses MSM who had all their sexual encounters with men (completely homosexual), those MSM who used to play both insertive and receptive roles, had 5 or more sexual partners, used condom irregularly had significantly higher chances of having sexual health problems. Most (70.3%) MSM sought treatment for their sexual health problem from an Allopathic doctor; 29.4% took treatment from a government health facility. The majority (94.1%) of them were reportedly satisfied with the health care facility. Most (79.4%) respondents preferred not to disclose their sexual behavior during interaction with their sexual health care provider. Conclusion: High prevalence of sexual health problems was found among MSM who engage in high-risk sexual behavior. MSM requires access to STIs screening. Behavior change communication is needed to improve their health-seeking behavior.http://www.ijph.in/article.asp?issn=0019-557X;year=2021;volume=65;issue=2;spage=142;epage=146;aulast=Aqeelhealth caremen who have sex with mensexual healthsnowball sampling |
| spellingShingle | Khan Iqbal Aqeel S S Chaudhary S K Misra Geetu Singh Prashant Lavania Sexual health problems and health-seeking behavior of men who have sex with men in Agra City, Uttar Pradesh Indian Journal of Public Health health care men who have sex with men sexual health snowball sampling |
| title | Sexual health problems and health-seeking behavior of men who have sex with men in Agra City, Uttar Pradesh |
| title_full | Sexual health problems and health-seeking behavior of men who have sex with men in Agra City, Uttar Pradesh |
| title_fullStr | Sexual health problems and health-seeking behavior of men who have sex with men in Agra City, Uttar Pradesh |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sexual health problems and health-seeking behavior of men who have sex with men in Agra City, Uttar Pradesh |
| title_short | Sexual health problems and health-seeking behavior of men who have sex with men in Agra City, Uttar Pradesh |
| title_sort | sexual health problems and health seeking behavior of men who have sex with men in agra city uttar pradesh |
| topic | health care men who have sex with men sexual health snowball sampling |
| url | http://www.ijph.in/article.asp?issn=0019-557X;year=2021;volume=65;issue=2;spage=142;epage=146;aulast=Aqeel |
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