Survivors Of Childhood Sexual Abuse More Likely
To Engage In Risky Behaviors
April 26, 2007
Gay and bisexual men who were victims of childhood sexual abuse are more likely
to engage in sexual behaviors that put them at higher risk of contracting HIV.
A study of 862 randomly selected gay and bisexual men who were enrolled in a
community festival found that almost one in seven had been victims of childhood
sexual abuse. Those who reported regular childhood sexual abuse were at
significantly greater risk for being HIV positive, were 7 times more likely to
have ever exchanged sex for money and were 6.4 times more likely to be a current
drug user than those who did not report abuse. However, the victims of childhood
sexual abuse were not more likely to have a current sexually transmitted
infection or to report practicing unprotected sex.
The study's authors recommended further research to help determine how childhood
sexual abuse contributes to sexual risk taking in gay and bisexual men and the
types of interventions that may be most effective. "We also believe that
data such as ours reflect the importance of (lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender) voices in policy development and advocacy to address child sexual
abuse," the study's authors said. (From: "History of Childhood Sexual
Abuse and HIV Risk Behaviors in Homosexual and Bisexual Men." Seth L.
Welles, Sc.D, Boston University, Boston, Mass.
The American Journal of Public Health is the monthly journal of
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