TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2019//
TI  - Violence and mental health among gender-diverse individuals enrolled in a human immunodeficiency virus program in Karnataka, South India
JO  - Transgender health
A1  - Thompson, Laura H.
A1  - Dutta, Sumit
A1  - Bhattacharjee, Parinita
A1  - Leung, Stella
A1  - Bhowmik, Anindita
A1  - Prakash, Ravi
A1  - Isac, Shajy
A1  - Lorway, Robert R.
SP  - 316
EP  - 325
VL  - 4
IS  - 1
N2  - <b>Purpose:</b> Gender-diverse individuals in India face considerable discrimination, stigma, and violence. There is a dearth of published literature describing experiences of violence among this population and potential links to mental health. <b>Methods:</b> A questionnaire was administered to 282 study participants, 18 years of age and older, who self-identified as hijra, kothi, double decker, or bisexual and were actively enrolled in a local HIV prevention program in Bangalore, India in 2012. Responses were used to calculate a composite depression/anxiety score. Associations between sociodemographic characteristics and experiences of physical and sexual violence in the previous six months were tested and differences in depression/anxiety score based on experiences of violence were explored. <b>Results:</b> Recent physical violence was common among study participants and was reported among 46% of nirvan (emasculated) hijras (transgender), 42% of akwa (not emasculated) hijras, and 25% of kothis (feminine acting males). Rape in the previous year was particularly common among akwa hijras (39%). Factors associated with being raped included younger age, less education, and employment in basti (blessings), sex work, chela (disciple of hijra guru), or at a community-based organization. Kothis had the highest depression/anxiety score. No significant difference in depression/anxiety score based on recent history of physical violence or rape was found. <b>Conclusions:</b> Physical violence and poor mental health are common among gender-diverse individuals in Bangalore, Karnataka. There is a need for services that cater to the unique mental health needs of gender-diverse individuals in India, following rights-based approaches that address the underlying roots of oppression they encounter.<br><br>© Laura H. Thompson et al. 2019; Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2688-4887
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1089/trgh.2018.0051
ID  - ref1
ER  -