Victimization, Substance Use, and HIV Risk Behaviors Among Gay/bisexual/two-spirit and Heterosexual American Indian Men in New York City

Overview

Journal Am J Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2006 May 4

PMID 16670237

Citations 12

Authors

Jane M Simoni

Karina L Walters

Kimberly F Balsam

Seth B Meyers

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: secondary aims included describing condom-use attitudes, beliefs about HIV/AIDS in the Indian community, HIV knowledge, HIV status, and preference for and access to HIV prevention services in this population.

Methods: A survey was mailed to all members of an American Indian community organization in New York City.

Results: The 20 men self-identifying as gay, two-spirit, or bisexual (hereafter, "two-spirit") were more likely to report being victimized and engaging in HIV risk behaviors than the 51 heterosexual respondents, although they reported comparable levels of recent substance use. Overall, victimization was associated with lifetime HIV risk behaviors (even after control for sexual orientation) but not with substance use or unsafe sex in the past 12 months. The percentage of HIV infection was surprisingly high (10% of two-spirit men and 6% of heterosexual men).

Conclusions: Two-spirit men are a vulnerable population whose victimization must be understood within an appropriate historical and political context.

Citing Articles

Creating a path forward: understanding the context of sexual health and sexually transmitted infections in American Indian/Alaska Native populations – a review.

Leston J, Wenger H, Reilley B, Rushing S, Rink E, Warren H Sex Health. 2022; 19(4):286-298.

PMID: 35760766 PMC: 11081199. DOI: 10.1071/SH22040.

They tell us "we don't belong in the world and we shouldn't take up a place": HIV discourse within two-spirit communities.

Arguello T, Walters K J Ethn Cult Divers Soc Work. 2019; 27(2):107-123.

PMID: 30774564 PMC: 6377155. DOI: 10.1080/15313204.2017.1362616.

HIV Among Indigenous peoples: A Review of the Literature on HIV-Related Behaviour Since the Beginning of the Epidemic.

Negin J, Aspin C, Gadsden T, Reading C AIDS Behav. 2015; 19(9):1720-34.

PMID: 25731659 PMC: 4551545. DOI: 10.1007/s10461-015-1023-0.

Alcohol misuse and associations with childhood maltreatment and out-of-home placement among urban two-spirit American Indian and Alaska Native people.

Yuan N, Duran B, Walters K, Pearson C, Evans-Campbell T Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2014; 11(10):10461-79.

PMID: 25317980 PMC: 4210990. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph111010461.

Adolescent gender-related abuse, androphilia, and HIV risk among transfeminine people of color in New York City.

Hwahng S, Nuttbrock L J Homosex. 2013; 61(5):691-713.

PMID: 24294927 PMC: 5711521. DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2014.870439.

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