Alex Müller1,2, Kristen Daskilewicz3, Mc Lean Kabwe4, Anna Mmolai-Chalmers5, Chelsea Morroni6, Nelson Muparamoto7, Adamson S Muula8, Vincent Odira9, Martin Zimba10. 1. Gender Health and Justice Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. alex.muller@uct.ac.za. 2. Department of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine, Universitätsmedizin Göttinge, Göttingen, Germany. alex.muller@uct.ac.za. 3. Gender Health and Justice Research Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. 4. The Lotus Identity, Lusaka, Zambia. 5. Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana. 6. Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Botswana UPenn Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana. 7. Department of Sociology, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe. 8. College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi. 9. Maaygo, Kisumu, Kenya. 10. Friends of Rainka, Lusaka, Zambia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research was to assess physical and sexual violence experienced by sexual and gender minorities in nine African countries, and to examine factors associated with violence. METHODS: We conducted an exploratory multi-country cross-sectional study among self-identifying sexual and gender minorities, using a survey tool available in paper and online. Participants were sampled through venue-based and web-based convenience sampling. We analysed data using descriptive statistics and logistic regression, with Stata15. FINDINGS: Of 3798 participants, 23% were gender minorities, 20% were living with HIV, and 18% had been coerced into marriage. Fifty-six per cent of all participants had experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, and 29% in the past year. Gender minorities had experienced significantly higher levels of violence compared to cisgender (sexual minority) participants. The variable most strongly associated with having experienced violence was being coerced into marriage (AOR, 3.02), followed by people living nearby knowing about one's sexual orientation and/or gender identity (AOR, 1.90) and living with HIV (AOR, 1.47). CONCLUSION: Sexual and gender minorities in Eastern and Southern Africa experience high levels of violence. Sexual orientation and gender identity need to be recognised as risk factors for violence in national and regional law and policy frameworks. States should follow the African Commission Resolution 275 and provide protection against violence based on real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research was to assess physical and sexual violence experienced by sexual and gender minorities in nine African countries, and to examine factors associated with violence. METHODS: We conducted an exploratory multi-country cross-sectional study among self-identifying sexual and gender minorities, using a survey tool available in paper and online. Participants were sampled through venue-based and web-based convenience sampling. We analysed data using descriptive statistics and logistic regression, with Stata15. FINDINGS: Of 3798 participants, 23% were gender minorities, 20% were living with HIV, and 18% had been coerced into marriage. Fifty-six per cent of all participants had experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, and 29% in the past year. Gender minorities had experienced significantly higher levels of violence compared to cisgender (sexual minority) participants. The variable most strongly associated with having experienced violence was being coerced into marriage (AOR, 3.02), followed by people living nearby knowing about one's sexual orientation and/or gender identity (AOR, 1.90) and living with HIV (AOR, 1.47). CONCLUSION: Sexual and gender minorities in Eastern and Southern Africa experience high levels of violence. Sexual orientation and gender identity need to be recognised as risk factors for violence in national and regional law and policy frameworks. States should follow the African Commission Resolution 275 and provide protection against violence based on real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
Entities:
Keywords:
Africa; Bisexual; Discrimination; Gay; Intersex; Lesbian; Sexual and gender minority; Sexual orientation and gender identity and expression; Transgender; Violence
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