Experiences of sexual violence in MSM living with HIV
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Experiences of sexual violence in men who have sex with men (MSM) living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
IRAS ID
353582
Contact name
Georgina Hurford
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Royal Holloway University London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
currently unavailable, currently unavailable
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Sexual violence is considered a traumatic experience, often associated with physical and psychological consequences. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are a risk group for experiencing sexual violence, however as a research topic, it has historically been approached as a predominately female issue. MSM are identified as being at increased risk of acquiring HIV. Similarly, research indicates that HIV risk behaviours like inconsistent condom use and participation in sex work are often linked to past experiences of sexual violence. However, the consequences of experiencing sexual violence within the HIV population are not fully understood, particularly in the UK. Male rape myths, such as the belief that "men are too strong to be raped" and HIV-related stigma are both persistent and challenging issues faced by the MSM and HIV-affected communities. Each of these factors has been shown to significantly influence behaviours, including the likelihood of seeking help. Research investigating sexual violence in MSM/HIV has typically been conducted outside of the UK and the different context, for example the criminalisation of homosexuality in some sub-Saharan African countries, has often resulted in cultural-specific experiences, meaning generalisability to UK settings can be difficult. The proposed study would expect to find unique experiences of the MSM/HIV living in the UK who have experience sexual violence, specifically the impact on help-seeking, resilience and coping.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/EE/0122
Date of REC Opinion
20 Aug 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion