Reported Violence and Its Influence on Receptiveness to Mental Health Care Among MSM and Transgender Women in the Dominican Republic
Name: Phoebe Greenwald
School: Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Class of 2023
Mentor: Silvia Cunto-Amesty, MD, MPH, MSEd
Abstract
Violence is associated with higher rates of depression in sexual and gender minority patients. Violence against men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women thus poses a major problem internationally and has been insufficiently studied in the Dominican Republic (DR). This study looked at how a history of violence affects receptiveness to mental health care among transgender women and MSM in the Dominican Republic (DR). We recruited 48 self-identified MSM and 19 trans women from the DR who endorsed a history of violence for a cross-sectional study in 2018. Recruitment was performed by community peers. Data were analyzed using Excel and R. The most prevalent form of reported violence was physical (84%). Notably, the majority (70%) of respondents believed it would be useful to talk to a healthcare provider about their experiences, but only half (49%) wanted a referral to a clinic psychologist. Support groups were more popular, with 79% expressing interest. Respondents