Register      Login
Sexual Health Sexual Health Society
Publishing on sexual health from the widest perspective
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Intimate partner violence and condom negotiation efficacy among gay and bisexual men in Atlanta

Rob Stephenson A B D , Ryan Freeland B and Catherine Finneran C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Health Behavior and Biological Sciences, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 North Ingalls, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA.

B The Center for Sexuality and Health Disparities, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA.

C Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.

D Corresponding author. Email: rbsteph@umich.edu

Sexual Health 13(4) 366-372 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH15212
Submitted: 31 October 2015  Accepted: 8 March 2016   Published: 28 April 2016

Abstract

Background: The experience of intimate partner violence (IPV) has been shown to decrease condom negotiation efficacy among women; however, studies of this association among gay and bisexual men (GBM) are lacking. Methods: A venue-recruited sample of 745 GBM was recruited in Atlanta, GA, USA in 2012–13. Participants self-completed a survey including questions on recent (previous 12 month) experience and perpetration of IPV using the IPV-GBM Scale. Multivariate regression analysis examined the association between reporting low condom negotiation efficacy with the respondent’s most recent sex partner (19.2% of respondents) and recent experience of IPV with the same or another partner. Results: Nearly half the sample (49.1%) reported recent receipt of IPV, although prevalence varied considerably across the forms of IPV. GBM who reported recent IPV experience were significantly less likely to report having felt able to negotiate condom use. Conclusions: These findings suggest that IPV may be a significant risk factor for HIV acquisition and transmission among GBM.

Additional keywords: bisexual, condom, gay, IPV, men, negotiation.


References

[1]  Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Estimated HIV incidence in the United States, 2007–2010. HIV Surveillance Supplemental Report 2012; 17. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/statistics_hssr_vol_17_no_4.pdf [verified 7 July 2015].

[2]  Stall R, Friedman M, Catania JA. Interacting epidemics and gay men’s health: a theory of syndemic production among urban gay men. Unequal opportunity: health disparities affecting gay and bisexual men in the United States. New York: Oxford University Press; 2008; p. 251–274.

[3]  Stall R, Mills TC, Williamson J, Hart T, Greenwood G, Paul J. Association of co-occurring psychosocial health problems and increased vulnerability to HIV/AIDS among urban men who have sex with men. Am J Public Health 2003; 93 939–42.
Association of co-occurring psychosocial health problems and increased vulnerability to HIV/AIDS among urban men who have sex with men.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12773359PubMed |

[4]  Coker AL. Does physical intimate partner violence affect sexual health? Trauma Violence Abuse 2007; 8 149–77.
Does physical intimate partner violence affect sexual health?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17545572PubMed |

[5]  Decker MR, Seage GR, Hemenway D, Raj A, Saggurti N, Balaiah D. Intimate partner violence functions as both a risk marker and risk factor for women’s HIV infection: findings from Indian husband-wife dyads. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2009; 51 593–600.
Intimate partner violence functions as both a risk marker and risk factor for women’s HIV infection: findings from Indian husband-wife dyads.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19421070PubMed |

[6]  Dunkle KL, Jewkes RK, Brown HC, Gray GE, McIntyre JA, Harlow SD. Gender-based violence, relationship power, and risk of HIV infection in women attending antenatal clinics in South Africa. Lancet 2004; 363 1415–21.
Gender-based violence, relationship power, and risk of HIV infection in women attending antenatal clinics in South Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15121402PubMed |

[7]  Garcia-Moreno C, Watts C. Violence against women: its importance for HIV/AIDS prevention. AIDS 2000; 24 253–65.

[8]  Gielen AC, McDonnell KA, O’Campo PJ. Intimate partner violence, HIV status, and sexual risk reduction. AIDS Behav 2002; 6 107–16.
Intimate partner violence, HIV status, and sexual risk reduction.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[9]  Jewkes RK, Levin JB, Penn-Kekana LA. Gender inequalities, intimate partner violence and HIV preventive practices: findings of a South African cross-sectional study. Soc Sci Med 2003; 56 125–34.
Gender inequalities, intimate partner violence and HIV preventive practices: findings of a South African cross-sectional study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12435556PubMed |

[10]  Karamagi CA, Tumwine JK, Tylleskar T, Heggenhougen K. Intimate partner violence against women in eastern Uganda: implications for HIV prevention. BioMed Central 2006; 6 1–12.

[11]  Maman S, Campbell J, Sweat MD, Gielen AC. The intersections of HIV and violence: directions for future research and interventions. Soc Sci Med 2000; 50 459–78.
The intersections of HIV and violence: directions for future research and interventions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3c7gsVOltA%3D%3D&md5=e87ad735a4d3e51df4ac141c3e4b4409CAS | 10641800PubMed |

[12]  Silverman JG, Decker MR, Saggurti N, Balaiah D, Raj A. Intimate partner violence and HIV infection among married Indian women. JAMA 2008; 300 703–10.
Intimate partner violence and HIV infection among married Indian women.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXpslyku7c%3D&md5=f3dd74882dea163b1397cd401109eb20CAS | 18698068PubMed |

[13]  Wu E, El-Bassel N, Witte SS, Gilbert L, Chang M. Intimate partner violence and HIV risk among urban minority women in primary health care settings. AIDS Behav 2003; 7 291–301.
Intimate partner violence and HIV risk among urban minority women in primary health care settings.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 14586191PubMed |

[14]  Kouyoumdjian FG, Calzavara LM, Bondy SJ, O’Campo P, Serwadda D, Nalugoda F. Intimate partner violence is associated with incident HIV infection in women in Uganda. AIDS 2013; 27 1331–8.
Intimate partner violence is associated with incident HIV infection in women in Uganda.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23925380PubMed |

[15]  Swan H, O’Connell DJ. The impact of intimate partner violence on women’s condom negotiation efficacy. J Interpers Violence 2012; 27 775–92.
The impact of intimate partner violence on women’s condom negotiation efficacy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21987514PubMed |

[16]  Pulerwitz J, Amaro H, Jong WD, Gortmaker SL, Rudd R. Relationship power, condom use and HIV risk among women in the USA. AIDS Care 2002; 14 789–800.
Relationship power, condom use and HIV risk among women in the USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3s%2FgsFGisw%3D%3D&md5=aa11d6ade423b6f7287fb14f4cc0e1ecCAS | 12511212PubMed |

[17]  Shannon K, Csete J. Violence, condom negotiation, and HIV/STI risk among sex workers. JAMA 2010; 304 573–4.
| 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXpvVyhs70%3D&md5=abb6a16336ae11b4a384dc7e8476c38cCAS | 20682941PubMed |

[18]  Teitelman AM, Ratcliffe SJ, Morales-Aleman MM, Sullivan CM. Sexual relationship power, intimate partner violence, and condom use among minority urban girls. J Interpers Violence 2008; 23 1694–712.
Sexual relationship power, intimate partner violence, and condom use among minority urban girls.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18349344PubMed |

[19]  Teitelman AM, Tennille J, Bohinski JM, Jemmott LS, Jemmott JB. Unwanted unprotected sex: condom coercion by male partners and self-silencing of condom negotiation among adolescent girls. ANS Adv Nurs Sci 2011; 34 243–59.
Unwanted unprotected sex: condom coercion by male partners and self-silencing of condom negotiation among adolescent girls.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21822072PubMed |

[20]  Wingood GM, DiClemente RJ. The effects of an abusive primary partner on the condom use and sexual negotiation practices of African-American women. Am J Public Health 1997; 87 1016–8.
The effects of an abusive primary partner on the condom use and sexual negotiation practices of African-American women.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK2szmslCrtg%3D%3D&md5=b9e85d12fce7868729a08c3aba8a42c1CAS | 9224187PubMed |

[21]  Wojcicki J, Malala J. Condom use, power and HIV/AIDS risk: sex-workers bargain for survival in Hillbrow/Joubert Park/Berea, Johannesburg. Soc Sci Med 2001; 53 99–121.
Condom use, power and HIV/AIDS risk: sex-workers bargain for survival in Hillbrow/Joubert Park/Berea, Johannesburg.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M3psFGguw%3D%3D&md5=3bc8e4119e9965138013817b7f95839cCAS | 11380165PubMed |

[22]  Kalichman SC, Williams EA, Cherry C, Belcher L, Nachimson D. sexual coercion, domestic violence and negotiating condom use among low-income African-American women. J Womens Health 1998; 7 371–8.
sexual coercion, domestic violence and negotiating condom use among low-income African-American women.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK1c3kt1Siug%3D%3D&md5=6cd68b914b27587956d9bf740baa5f25CAS | 9580917PubMed |

[23]  Frye V, Ompad D, Chan C, Koblin B, Galea S, Vlahov D. Intimate partner violence perpetration and condom use-related factors: associations with heterosexual men’s consistent condom use. AIDS Behav 2011; 15 153–62.
Intimate partner violence perpetration and condom use-related factors: associations with heterosexual men’s consistent condom use.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20069447PubMed |

[24]  Finneran C, Stephenson R. Intimate partner violence among men who have sex with men: a systematic review. Trauma Violence Abuse 2013; 14 168–85.
Intimate partner violence among men who have sex with men: a systematic review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23271429PubMed |

[25]  Stephenson R, Finneran C. The IPV-GBM Scale: A new scale to measure intimate partner violence among gay and bisexual men. PLoS One 2013; 8 e62592
The IPV-GBM Scale: A new scale to measure intimate partner violence among gay and bisexual men.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXhtVSktr3K&md5=68add26768173b1280e2684175e22f96CAS | 23755098PubMed |

[26]  Kalichman S, Rompa D. Sexually coerced and noncoerced gay and bisexual men: factors relevant to risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. J Sex Res 1995; 32 45–50.
Sexually coerced and noncoerced gay and bisexual men: factors relevant to risk for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[27]  Kalichman S, Benotsch E, Rompa D, Gore-Felton C, Austin J, Webster L. Unwanted sexual experiences and sexual risks in gay and bisexual men: associations among revictimization, substance use, and psychiatric symptoms. J Sex Res 2001; 38 1–9.
Unwanted sexual experiences and sexual risks in gay and bisexual men: associations among revictimization, substance use, and psychiatric symptoms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[28]  White D, Stephenson R. Identity formation, outness, and sexual risk among gay and bisexual men. Am J Men Health 2014; 8 98–109.
Identity formation, outness, and sexual risk among gay and bisexual men.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[29]  Kelley CF, Rosenberg ES, O’Hara BM, Frew PM, Sanchez T, Peterson JL. Measuring population transmission risk for HIV: an alternative metric of exposure risk in men who have sex with men (MSM) in the US. PLoS One 2012; 7 e53284
Measuring population transmission risk for HIV: an alternative metric of exposure risk in men who have sex with men (MSM) in the US.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXotValsQ%3D%3D&md5=b3c51b7819b7bb7fc4e00613fa74e559CAS | 23285274PubMed |

[30]  Walters MJC, Breiding M. The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 findings on victimization by sexual orientation. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2013.

[31]  Feldman M, Ream G, Díaz R, El-Bassel N. Intimate partner violence and HIV sexual risk behavior among Latino gay and bisexual men: the role of situational factors. J LGBT Health Res 2008; 3 75–87.
Intimate partner violence and HIV sexual risk behavior among Latino gay and bisexual men: the role of situational factors.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[32]  Houston E, McKirnan DJ. Intimate partner abuse among gay and bisexual men: risk correlates and health outcomes. J Urban Health 2007; 84 681–90.
Intimate partner abuse among gay and bisexual men: risk correlates and health outcomes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17610158PubMed |

[33]  Relf MV, Huang B, Campbell J, Catania J. Gay identity, interpersonal violence, and HIV risk behaviours: an empirical test of theoretical relationships among a probability-based sample of urban men who have sex with men. J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care 2004; 15 14–26.
Gay identity, interpersonal violence, and HIV risk behaviours: an empirical test of theoretical relationships among a probability-based sample of urban men who have sex with men.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15090130PubMed |

[34]  Dilley JW, McFarland W, Sullivan P, Discepola M. Psychosocial correlates of unprotected anal sex in a cohort of gay men attending an HIV-negative support group. AIDS Educ Prev 1998; 10 317–26.
| 1:STN:280:DyaK1czovVaksg%3D%3D&md5=9b045dbe832f213a090b3a68ff9f0a0fCAS | 9721384PubMed |

[35]  O’Leary A, Wolitski RJ, Remien RH, Woods WJ, Parsons JT, Moss S. Psychosocial correlates of transmission risk behaviour among HIV-seropositive gay and bisexual men. AIDS 2005; 19 S67–S75.
Psychosocial correlates of transmission risk behaviour among HIV-seropositive gay and bisexual men.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15838196PubMed |

[36]  Alvy LM, McKirnan DJ, Mansergh G, Koblin B, Colfax GN, Flores SA. Depression is associated with sexual risk among men who have sex with men, but is mediated by cognitive escape and self-efficacy. AIDS Behav 2011; 15 1171–9.
Depression is associated with sexual risk among men who have sex with men, but is mediated by cognitive escape and self-efficacy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20217471PubMed |

[37]  Simon Rosser BR, Horvath KJ, Hatfield LA, Peterson JL, Jacoby S, Stately A. Predictors of HIV disclosure to secondary partners and sexual risk behavior among a high-risk sample of HIV-positive MSM: results from six epicenters in the US. AIDS Care 2008; 20 925–30.
Predictors of HIV disclosure to secondary partners and sexual risk behavior among a high-risk sample of HIV-positive MSM: results from six epicenters in the US.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD1crovVyisQ%3D%3D&md5=7483760912d877a168c9dfa846d91243CAS | 18777221PubMed |

[38]  Mausbach BT, Semple SJ, Strathdee SA, Zians J, Patterson TL. Efficacy of a behavioural intervention for increasing safer sex behaviours in HIV-positive MSM methamphetamine users: results from the EDGE study. Drug Alcohol Depend 2007; 87 249–57.
Efficacy of a behavioural intervention for increasing safer sex behaviours in HIV-positive MSM methamphetamine users: results from the EDGE study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17182196PubMed |