Discussion. The epidemic of HIV/STD among MSM is severe, and the prevalence of risk sexual behaviors was at a high level among MSM in China. The risk factors for HIV/STD and factors associated with DAI reported in this study give some insights towards designing relevant prevention programs. The simplicity and feasibility of our effective intervention, enhanced VCT, makes it possible for this to be incorporated into standard VCT procedures. Further translational research is needed to investigate its effectiveness in the real-world setting. / Introduction. Men who have sex with men (MSM) have become the main group for HIV transmission in China in 2009. There have been many epidemiological cross-sectional studies targeting MSM in China in recent years. These provide limited data compared with cohort studies, which can describe the rate at which HIV/STD are spreading in a target population. Moreover, there is a dearth of intervention studies which are theory-based with rigorous research methodology in China. Last but not least, research is needed on sexual behaviors and their determinants, including cognitions from health behavioral theories, event-specific factors, etc. / Objectives. This study investigated the prevalence and incidence of HIV/STD, as well as their associated risk factors among MSM in Nanjing, China. It also explored the prevalence of unprotected anal sex (UAI) and the associated factors, including cognitions from health behavioral theories and event-specific factors. In addition, this is also one of the first studies to examine the efficacy of a randomized control trial (RCT) designed intervention, to use enhanced voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) to reduce UAI among MSM in China. / Results. The RDS-adjusted HIV, syphilis and HCV prevalence were respectively 7.3%, 14.4% and 0.2% at baseline. Of the 397 MSM who were found to be HIV seronegative at baseline, 286 (72.0%) retested at Month 6. HIV, syphilis and HCV incidence were respectively 5.12, 7.58 and 0 per 100 person-years (PY). Recruiting male sex partners mostly at saunas was the risk factor associated with being HIV seropositive at baseline (OR=3.84) and undergoing HIV/syphilis seroconversion at Month 6 (RR=2.351RR=6.72). In the RCT study, participants in the Intervention Group reported significantly less risk than those in the Control Group (UAI with any male sex partners: 48.4% vs. 66.7%;UAI with regular male sex partners: 52.2% vs. 68.9%) at Month 6. Furthermore, Perceived Behavior Control showed a significant association with DAI with both regular (AOR=0.42) and casual partners (AOR=O.73). / Subjects and Methods. A cohort study and randomized control trial were conducted. Out of 416 MSM approached by respondent driven sampling (RDS), 397 HIV negative participants were recruited to the HIV/syphilis/HCV cohort, and they were invited to return for a follow-up visit at Month 6. A subsample from the baseline cohort consisting of 307 MSM, was randomly assigned to either the Intervention Group (enhanced VCT) or the Control Group (standard VCT). Evaluation was conducted at Month 6. Both baseline and Month 6 visits consisted of VCT service and interviewing. Statistical methods such as Chi-square test, logistic regression and Poisson regression were used in this study. / Hao, Chun. / Adviser: Joseph TF Lan. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-04, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 166-179). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract and appendixes I-II also in Chinese.

This study focuses on a group of homosexual men. The group has been defined as 'Queer' based on the value and pride which they place on their difference to the general norms and values of the wider society. Four of these men were interviewed on their moral structure and the way in which they structure their relationships. The study focused on: the nature of the norms this group has developed; the process by which this has occurred; and the psychological effects of this process. It was found that the research participants have developed new norms and behavioural scripts significantly different to those existing generally in society. These new behavioural scripts relate to the socially mandated scripts in various ways with some mandated scripts being rejected, some being adapted and amended and others being inverted. These differences seem to originate from individuals being rejected and stigmatised. The changes these queer men have made were moves to bring a greater sense of congruence between their experience, their morality and their behavioural scripts. The initial period of divergence between the socially mandated behavioural scripts and their sexual behaviour was marked by psychological distress while the move to greater congruence between behaviour and behavioural scripts was characterised by increased psychological empowerment and sense of self-worth. The study also showed that during these processes other differences developed between the way these individuals act in their world and the general norm of society. These differences included a greater self-awareness; an increased ability to operate at a meta-level; a conscious effort to create the life that one wants; differences in gender behaviour which incorporated behavioural aspects of both genders and new forms of establishing and maintaining relationships. Homosexuality is an historic opportunity to open up new relational and affective potentialities, not in virtue of qualities intrinsic to the homosexual, but because of the position of the homosexual 'offcenter', somehow, together with the diagonal lines which the homosexual can draw through the social fabric, makes it possible to bring to light these potentialities - a famous homosexual Queer (M. Foucault) / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

Anecdotal observations among clinicians and laypersons suggest that some men who have been sexually abused by men as children experience more homosexual sexual attraction and engage in more homosexual sexual behavior than men who have not been sexually abused. These men often report feeling “confused” about their sexuality. Some men also report believing that there is a relationship between their homosexual feelings and behaviors and their sexual abuse as children. Moreover, research in the area of sexual abuse reveals that disproportionately more men with sexual abuse histories identify as gay and bisexual than men with non-sexual abuse histories, especially when the perpetrator of the abuse was male. However, very few studies have specifically explored the relationship between sexual orientation and sexual abuse. The proposed study will examine the relationship between sexual orientation in men and their reports of childhood sexual abuse by males. Additionally, the proposed study will distinguish between those individuals that have interpreted their childhood sexual experiences as negative (or abusive) and those who have not. Past research in this topic has categorized participants as “abused” based on a set of predetermined benchmarks (e.g., age differential, specific acts performed, etc.,) while not including the individual’s subjective account/interpretation of the experience. This research will consider how the distinction between intergenerational sexual contact that is experienced as abusive and intergenerational sexual contact that is not experienced as abusive relates to sexual orientation and sexual identity. / text

Diversos estudos apontam que existe maior vulnerabilidade - em suas três dimensões, individual, social e programática - para aquisição de HIV em homens que fazem sexo com homens (HSH), e essa vulnerabilidade se potencializa quando avaliada em condições relacionadas ao uso de drogas psicoativas. Esse estudo explorou a relação entre o uso recreativo de droga psicoativa e sexo em população de HSH. Participaram da pesquisa 34 sujeitos selecionados em uma amostra de conveniência, os quais responderam questionário estruturado e semiestruturado sobre o uso de drogas e o comportamento sexual. O tamanho da amostra foi definido com base na técnica qualitativa de esgotamento de discurso. Foi utilizada análise descritiva para as questões quantitativas e análise de conteúdo para as questões qualitativas. Dos participantes, 91% (31) referiram uso drogas psicoativas. O álcool foi relatado por 94% (29) dos indivíduos, sendo o mais frequente entre as drogas licitas. A maconha, entre as drogas ilícitas, foi relatada por 58% (18). O uso intermitente do preservativo apareceu em 91% (31) das respostas. A mediana relatada de parceiros sexuais no mês anterior à pesquisa foi de 1,5 (P25-75:1-4). A análise de conteúdo mostrou uma percepção conservadora sobre a relação entre uso de drogas e sexo. O preservativo foi citado como a forma mais conhecida de prevenção. A utilização de drogas não pareceu ser o fator mais relevante associado às falhas relacionadas ao uso de estratégias de prevenção. O estudo mostrou que outros fatores, como capacidade de negociação com o parceiro, realizar oportunidades baseadas no risco e principalmente o desejo sexual, podem influenciar mais no não uso de preservativo do que as drogas psicoativas. Apesar de ter sido observada uma associação entre o uso de drogas psicoativas e a falha de prevenção no comportamento sexual de risco, fica evidente a necessidade de maior compreensão das variáveis envolvidas nesse processo para tornar mais efetivas as ações programáticas de prevenção de HIV e outras DSTs nessa população / Several studies pointed out higher vulnerability for HIV acquisition; in terms of individual, social and programmatic dimensions; in men who have sex with men (MSM). This vulnerability appears to be enhanced when assessed on psychoactive drug use conditions. This study explored the relationship between recreational use of psychoactive drugs and sex in the MSM population. Thirty-four individuals selected by convenience sample participated in the study. They answered structured and semi-structured questionnaires on drug use and sexual behavior. The sample size was defined on qualitative technique, up to the number when data saturation was achieved. Descriptive analysis was used for quantitative questions and content analysis for qualitative answers. The results showed that 91% (31) of the group referred psychoactive drug use. The most frequent licit drug used was alcohol 94% (29) and for illicit drug was marijuana 58% (18). The intermittent condom use was reported by 91% of them. The median reported number of sexual partners in the last month in this group was 1.5 (P25-75: 1- 4). The content analysis showed a conservative perception toward drug use and sex relationship. The condom appeared as the best-known prevention form. The use of drugs did not appear to be the most significant factor associated with prevention strategies failures. The study showed that other factors; such as ability to negotiate with the partner, taking risk-based opportunities and, particularly, sex drive; might have higher influence in dismissing condom use than psychoactive drugs use. Despite an association between use of psychoactive drugs and failure to avoid sexual risk behavior was observed, a better understanding of variables involved in this process is needed to make programmatic actions to prevent HIV and other STIs more effective in this population

Baseada em pesquisa etnográfica envolvendo observação participante e entrevistas em profundidade realizadas entre 2011 e 2013, a proposta deste trabalho consiste em investigar a maneira pela qual homens de meia-idade provenientes de camadas médias e residentes na cidade de São Paulo experimentam e percebem transformações relativas à visibilidade homossexual ao longo de suas vidas e, mais especialmente, das últimas três décadas. A partir de uma análise dos discursos, tento construir junto aos interlocutores uma dialética que leva em conta tanto a experiência subjetiva de pertencimento a um grupo tradicionalmente marginalizado quanto a posição sócio-histórica que ocupam. Aqui, entram em jogo vários marcos, como o final da ditadura militar e a abertura política do Brasil, os pânicos morais suscitados pelo advento da epidemia de HIV/AIDS em meados da década de 1980 e a participação de alguns deles em movimentos sociais. Alvo de discussões acaloradas no cenário político nacional, exploro também suas posições sobre acontecimentos mais recentes, como o surgimento das Paradas do Orgulho LGBT e os embates envolvendo o reconhecimento das uniões homoafetivas e a criminalização da homofobia no país. Ao mesmo tempo, problematizo o marcador geração e procuro entender as diferenças que apontam entre eles e os mais jovens. / Drawing on ethnographic research involving participant observation and in-depth interviews conducted between 2011 and 2013, this study investigates the way by which middle-class, middle-aged men from São Paulo experience and perceive transformations of homosexual visibility throughout their lives and most especially over the last three decades. Analyzing their discourses, I try to build with interlocutors a dialectic that takes into account both the subjective experience of belonging to a traditionally marginalized group and the socio-historical position they occupy. Various landmarks come into play, such as the end of the military dictatorship and the political openness in Brazil, the moral panics brought on by the emergence of HIV/AIDS epidemic in the mid-1980s and the participation of some in social movements. Subjects of heated debates in the national political scene, I also explore their positions on more recent events such as the emergence of LGBT Pride Parades and the clashes involving the recognition of same-sex unions and the criminalization of homophobic discrimination in the country. At the same time, I question the label generation and try to understand the differences they point between themselves and the younger.

Androphilia refers to sexual attraction and arousal to adult males, whereas gynephilia refers to sexual attraction and arousal to adult females. Prehistoric artifacts such as art and pottery indicate that male-male same sex behaviour has existed for millennia. Bearing this in mind, and considering that male androphilia has a genetic component yet androphilic males reproduce at a fraction of the rate than do gynephilic males, how the genes for male androphilia have been maintained in the population presents an evolutionary puzzle. This thesis tests two hypotheses that attempt to address this Darwinian paradox. Chapter one reviews the current literature on the kin selection hypothesis and the sexually antagonistic gene hypothesis. In addition, rationales for testing these hypotheses in Canada are provided. Chapter two tests the kin selection hypothesis for male androphilia within a Canadian population. Results and implications are discussed. Chapter three tests the sexually antagonistic gene hypothesis within a Canadian population. Results and implications are discussed. Chapter four summarizes the results of the two studies and discusses how these findings may be interpreted from an evolutionary perspective. The impacts of gene-environment interaction on the functional behavioral expression of traits are emphasized. / viii, 113 leaves ; 29 cm

Thesis (M.A. History)--University of Waikato, 2007. / Title from PDF cover (viewed April 9, 2008) Includes bibliographical references (p. 127-140)

Thesis (M.A.)--Auburn University, 2008. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 56-57).

Thesis (M.A.)--University of California, San Diego, Department of Anthropology, 1990. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 1995. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Dec. 20, 2005). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 160-170). Also issued as print manuscript.