Mental Health Problems and Associated Socio-Ecological Factors Among HIV-Positive Young Migrant Men Who Have Sex with Men in China
Document Type
Book Chapter
Department
School of Nursing and Midwifery, East Africa
Abstract
We examined the mental health status among HIV-positive young migrant men who have sex with men (MSM) residing in a city in Southern China through an ethnographic study. Nineteen HIV-positive young MSM aged from 18 to 25 were included in the current analysis. Most HIV-positive young MSM (14/19) self-reported depressive symptoms, almost half (8/19) had experienced anxiety, and about one third (6/19) had experienced both symptoms. The HIV diagnosis brought on such testified stressors including frightening images of HIV/AIDS, side-effects of antiretroviral treatment (ART), and social restrictions due to the disease, serving to make the men feel disabled and worthless. Participants’ life history accounts provided evidence of their problems being embedded in social ecological contexts, such as social adversity in the process of migration, social suffering as MSM, cultural trauma, stigma and discrimination. We theorize that HIV/AIDS is a trigger that amplifies pre-existing stress and conflicts that are deeply embedded at different socio-ecological levels among young migrant MSM.
Publication (Name of Journal)
Springer
Recommended Citation
Li, H.,
Lau, J. T.,
Holroyd, E.,
Li, X.
(2016). Mental Health Problems and Associated Socio-Ecological Factors Among HIV-Positive Young Migrant Men Who Have Sex with Men in China. Springer, 223-239.
Available at:
https://ecommons.aku.edu/eastafrica_fhs_sonam/136