Levels of Homonegative Abuse Among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Peru and Their Association with STI and/or HIV Testing: An Analysis from the Latin American Men Internet Survey

Objectives: To examine the prevalence and geographic distribution of homonegative abuse (HA) among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Peru and its association with HIV/STI testing. Method: We analyzed data from 1,934 MSM from Peru who participated in the 2018 Latin American Men Internet Survey (LAMIS). We assessed the prevalence and geographic distribution of HA (intimidation, verbal abuse, and physical violence due to sexual orientation) across four macro-regions: Lima/Callao, Coast, Highlands, and Amazonia. Associations with sociodemographic characteristics and HIV/STI testing behavior were explored through comparative analyses, using prevalence ratios adjusted for key sociodemographic variables. Results: Approximately 61% of participants reported HA in the previous year. Intimidation (56%) was the most common, followed by verbal abuse (34%) and physical violence (4%). HA was more prevalent in the Coast (67%) and Highlands (66%) than in Lima/Callao (59%). Factors positively associated with recent HA included younger age, financial hardship, lower education, gay identity, and high levels of outness. No significant association was found between HA and HIV/STI testing. Conclusions: HA is prevalent among Peruvian MSM, especially outside the capital macro-region (Lima/Callao). These findings highlight the need for further research to investigate whether specific sources of HA may be linked to reduced use of sexual healthcare services among MSM in Peru and support targeted interventions addressing the sociocultural contexts that perpetuate abuse against MSM in Peru.