The relationship between acceptance of illness and quality of life among men who have sex with men living with human immunodeficiency virus:A cross-sectional study

Objectives To explore the relationship between acceptance of illness and quality of life(QOL),and factors associated with acceptance of illness among men who have sex with men(MSM)living with human immunodeficiency virus(HIV).Methods Three hundred and one MSM were recruited from an HIV clinic between August and December 2018.The battery of measurements consisted of the Acceptance of Illness Scale,World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire for HIV brief version,HIV Cognitive Appraisal Scale and a self-designed questionnaire used to collect general information.Pearson correlation test was used to examine the relationship between acceptance of illness and QOL.Univariate and multivariate ordinal logistic regression analyses were used to examine whether the general data(demographic and HIV-related clinical data)and HIV cognitive appraisal were associated with acceptance of illness levels.Results Descriptive analysis showed the acceptance level among MSM living with HIV was moderate(Mean=26.29,SD=5.28).Those with a better acceptance of illness had a better QOL(r=0.69,P<0.01).In the multivariate ordinal logistic regression model,education level,threat appraisals(OR:1.09;95%CI[1.06–1.13]),and controllability appraisals(OR:0.82;95%CI[0.71–0.94])were significantly associated with acceptance of illness.Conclusions Results showed acceptance level was moderate and had a positive correlation with QOL.High level of education,low threat appraisals and high controllability appraisals were related to high illness acceptance.This finding highlights the importance of focusing on HIV-infected MSM with low education and on their perceptions of threat and controllability about HIV-related issues when designing interventions to promote illness acceptance in this vulnerable population.

Factors Related to LGBT Recognition for University Students and Employed Adults

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate Japanese students and employed adults’ characteristic features, and sexual situation, and to find the correlated factors of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) recognition in order to obtain suggestions for improved relationships with sexual minorities in a diversifying society. Methods: This quantitative cross-sectional descriptive correlational study occurred during 2018 to 2019 when 2210 questionnaires were distributed to a purposive sample of eligible participants. A total of 1534 completed questionnaires (69.4%) were returned, of which 1439 (65.1%) were suitable for analyses. The survey included respondents’ 1) characteristics, 2) sexual situation, and 3) LGBT recognition scale. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, factor analysis, reliability analysis, and structural equation modeling. SPSS ver. 26.0 (SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA) was used for data analysis at a 5% significance level. Results: The LGBT recognition score was significantly affected by suffering from gender identity (standardized partial regression coefficient: β = 0.17, p < 0.001), age (β = −0.19, p < 0.001), learning about LGBT experience (β = 0.29, p < 0.001), experience of disclosure from LGBT person (β = 0.14, p < 0.001), sexual problems with intimate relationship (β = 0.07, p < 0.001), and diversity penetration (β = 0.14, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Suffering from gender identity, learning about LGBT experience, experience of disclosure from LGBT person, sexual problem with intimate relationship, and diversity penetration had a positive effect, whereas age had negative effects on the LGBT recognition score.

Identity,stigma,and HIV risk among transgender women:a qualitative study in Jiangsu Province,China

Background:Transgender women have multiple disparities globally,including social rejection and stigma,HIV infection and untreated mental health problems.However,few data on transgender women are available in China.Therefore,this study aimed to explore transgender women's experiences on gender identity,disclosure,discrimination,transgender-specific medical care,and perceptions of HIV and sexually transmitted infections(STI)risk in China.Methods:A qualitative study was conducted in Nanjing and Suzhou city,China in 2018.Key informant interviews(n=14)and focus group discussions(n=2)with diverse transgender women were implemented.Text was transcribed and translated,and Dedoose™software was used for coding,analysis and interpretation by the research team.Results:Chinese transgender women share experiences with transgender women worldwide,including a long and challenging identity search,stigma and discrimination,poor access to trans-specific services and unmet needs for mental health care.Features unique to them include terms used for self-identification,culturally-shaped expectations for reproduction,and ideals of placing the familial and societal welfare over personal fulfillment.Social networks of this population appear sparse,scattered,and underground.Familial rejection was experienced by nearly all respondents.Perceptions of HIV and STI risk and history of HIV testing were notably low.Conclusions:Transgender women in China face high social rejection and discrimination along with unmet need for various types of healthcare.Scaling up transgender-specific services including gender-affirming medical care,mental health care and HIV/STI prevention are warranted to address the social,medical and mental health of transgender women in China.