Canada YMSM Study Reveals Risks of Physical Assault

CANADA: "Incidence of and Risk Factors for Sexual Orientation-Related Physical Assault Among Young Men Who Have Sex with Men"
Am Journal of Public Health Vol. 98; No. 6: P. 1028-1035 (06..08):: Thomas M. Lampinen, PhD; Keith Chan, MSc; Aranka Anema, MSc; Mary Lou Miller, RN; Arn J. Schilder; Martin T. Schechter, MD, PhD; Robert Stephen Hogg, PhD; Steffanie A. Strathdee, PhD

The researchers completed a prospective open cohort study in Vancouver, British Columbia, in which young men who have sex with men (MSM) were surveyed annually to determine the incidence, prevalence, and risk factors for physical assaults related to the their sexual orientation. Correlates of such assaults before enrollment were identified using logistic regression. Cox regression was employed to determine risk factors for incident assaults.

The authors surveyed 521 MSM from 1995 to 2004. At enrollment, 84 (16 percent) reported having ever experienced assault related to actual or perceived sexual orientation. Incidence was 2.3 per 100 person-years; cumulative incidence at six-year follow-up was 10.8 per 100 person-years. The authors noted increased risk of incident physical assaults related to sexual orientation among MSM age 23 or younger (relative hazard=3.1; 95 percent confidence interval=1.6, 5.8), Canadian Aboriginal MSM (RH=3.0; 95 percent CI=1.4, 6.2), and previous victims of such assault (RH=2.5; 95 percent CI=1.3, 4.8).

"These data underscore the need for increased public awareness, surveillance, and support to reduce assault against young MSM," the authors concluded. "Such efforts should be coordinated at the community level to ensure that social norms dictate that such acts are unacceptable."