The other side of the bridge

Behaviourally bisexual men have been identified as a 'bridge' population of HIV transmission to heterosexual women in India. Little is known about the sexual relationships that these men have with their female sex partners. The primary objective of this study was to explore the sexual practices and relationship dynamics between married and unmarried behaviourally bisexual men and their female sex partners in Mumbai, India. In 2009, semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 32 men who reported sex with men and women. Participants discussed a variety of sexual practices and arrangements with female sex partners. Irrespective of marital status and sexual identity, many said that they had satisfying sexual experiences and feelings of affection for female sex partners. However, sexual incompatibility between married partners was also reported. Explanations of bisexual concurrency were discussed in terms of both sexual satisfaction and sexual preference. Self-perceived HIV risk related to same-sex sexual behaviour motivated many men to use condoms with female partners. Expectations of unprotected marital sex and perceptions of partner risk were barriers to condom use. HIV-prevention programmes for this population may benefit from tailored risk-reduction counselling that attends to the variations of these sexual and social relationship dynamics

Affection · Condom · Developmental psychology · Family medicine · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV · Human sexuality · Population · Sociology · Syphilis · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · Gender Studies · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Psychology · Social Psychology

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  Open Access•Venkatesan Chakrapani, P A Newman et al.•PLOS Global Public Health•2023

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• Sexual Relationships, Behaviors, and Experiences Among Bisexual Men in Mumbai, India

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• A randomized clinical efficacy trial of a psychosocial intervention to strengthen self-acceptance and reduce HIV risk for MSM in India

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• Diverse Rates of Depression Among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) Across India

  Open Access•Cecilia Tomori, Allison M Mcfall et al.•AIDS and Behavior•2015

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• HIV risks among women who are married to men who have sex with men in India

  Cecilia Tomori, Kailasom Srikrishnan Aylur et al.•Culture Health & Sexuality•2018

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• Perceived health concerns among sexual minority women in Mumbai, India

  Jessamyn Bowling, Brian Dodge et al.•Culture Health & Sexuality•2016

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• Secret lives and gender fluidity of people living with HIV in Hyderabad, India

  Open Access•Azhar, Jason Vaudrey et al.•Journal of Community Psychology•2022

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• Garnering an In-depth Understanding of Men Who Have Sex with Men in Chennai, India

  Open Access•Matthew J Mimiaga, Elizabeth F Closson et al.•Archives of Sexual Behavior•2015

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• Perspectives on Sexual Identity Formation, Identity Practices, and Identity Transitions Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in India

  Open Access•Cecilia Tomori, Kailasom Srikrishnan Aylur et al.•Archives of Sexual Behavior•2018

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• Heterosexual Marital Intention

  Xin Shi, Wenjian Xu et al.•Journal of Homosexuality•2020

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• Structural Violence Against Kothi –Identified Men Who Have Sex with Men in Chennai, India

  Venkatesan Chakrapani, P A Newman et al.•AIDS Education•2007

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• A Discussion of Chain Referral As a Method of Sampling Hard-to-Reach Populations

  Open Access•Janice Penrod, Deborah Bray Preston et al.•Journal of Transcultural Nursing•2003

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• A group-based intervention to increase condom use among HIV serodiscordant couples in India, Thailand, and Uganda

  Janet W Mcgrath, David D Celentano et al.•AIDS Care•2007

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• The Emerging HIV Epidemic among Men Who have Sex with Men in Tamil Nadu, India

  Open Access•Sunil Suhas Solomon, Kailasom Srikrishnan Aylur et al.•AIDS and Behavior•2010

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• Sexual Behavior Among Men Who have Sex with Women, Men, and Hijras in Mumbai, India—Multiple Sexual Risks

  Open Access•Alexandra L Hernandez, Christina Lindan et al.•AIDS and Behavior•2006

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• Rights and representations

  Paul Boyce, Akshay Khanna•Culture Health & Sexuality•2011

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  Open Access•Sheena Asthana, Robert Oostvogels•Social Science & Medicine•2001

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  Open Access•Sarah Curti, Sarah Curtis et al.•Social Science & Medicine•2000

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• Health work, female sex workers and HIV/Aids

  Open Access•Graham Scambler, Frederique Paoli•Social Science & Medicine•2008

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• Within-Case and Across-Case Approaches to Qualitative Data Analysis

  Open Access•Lioness Ayres, Karen Kavanaugh et al.•Qualitative Health Research•2003

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• Empowering sex workers in India to reduce vulnerability to HIV and sexually transmitted diseases

  Open Access•Dallas Swendeman, Ishika Basu et al.•Social Science & Medicine•2009

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  Open Access•John O’neil, Treena Orchard et al.•Social Science & Medicine•2004

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  Shivananda Khan•Journal of Homosexuality•2001

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• On Becoming a Male Sex Worker in Mysore

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• ConceivingKothis

  Paul Boyce•Medical Anthropology•2007

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