Sexual identity stigma and social support among men who have sex with men in Lesotho: a qualitative analysis

Men who have sex with men (MSM) face sexual identity stigma in many settings, which can increase risk for HIV by limiting access to care. This paper examines the roles of social support, sexual identity stigma, and sexual identity disclosure among MSM in Lesotho, a lower-middle income country within South Africa. Qualitative data were collected from 23 in-depth interview and six focus group participants and content analysis was performed to extract themes. Four primary themes emerged: 1) Verbal abuse from the broader community is a major challenge faced by MSM in Lesotho, 2) participants who were open about their sexual identity experienced greater stigma but were more self-sufficient and had higher self-confidence, 3) relationships between MSM tend to be conducted in secrecy, which can be associated with unhealthy relationships between male couples and higher risk sexual practices, and 4) MSM community organisations provide significant social and emotional support.

Source: Reproductive Health Matters - December 10, 2015 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Shauna Stahlman, Kali Bechtold, Stephanie Sweitzer, Tampose Mothopeng, Noah Taruberekera, John Nkonyana, Stefan Baral Tags: Feature Source Type: research