Open AccessViolence and Mental Health Among Gender-Diverse Individuals Enrolled in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus Program in Karnataka, South India
Author(s) -
Laura H. Thompson,
Sumit Dutta,
Parinita Bhattacharjee,
Stella Leung,
Anindita Bhowmik,
Ravi Prakash,
Shajy Isac,
Robert Lorway
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
transgender health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.242
H-Index - 20
eISSN - 2688-4887
pISSN - 2380-193X
DOI - 10.1089/trgh.2018.0051
Subject(s) - mental health , anxiety , transgender , population , depression (economics) , stigma (botany) , psychology , domestic violence , psychiatry , sexual violence , clinical psychology , medicine , suicide prevention , poison control , environmental health , criminology , psychoanalysis , economics , macroeconomics
Purpose: 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. Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusions: 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.