Substance Use and Depression Among Recently Migrated African Gay and Bisexual Men Living in the United States.
Adedotun Ogunbajo, Chukwuemeka Anyamele, Arjee J Restar, Curtis Dolezal, Theodorus G M Sandfort
Author Information
Adedotun Ogunbajo: Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA.
Chukwuemeka Anyamele: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 15, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
Arjee J Restar: Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA.
Curtis Dolezal: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 15, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
Theodorus G M Sandfort: HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, Unit 15, New York, NY, 10032, USA. tgs2001@cumc.columbia.edu. ORCID
Immigrant African gay and bisexualmen (GBM) are at risk for substance use and adverse mental health outcomes due to negative experiences in home and host countries. Little is known about correlates of substance use and mental health outcomes in this population. We explored pre- and post-migratory factors associated with substance use and depression in recently migrated African GBM. Participants (N = 70) were recruited between July and November 2015 in NYC. Eligible participants were administered a structured questionnaire. Correlates of substance use and depression were identified using bivariate and multivariable analyses. Factors independently associated with current substance use were age, openness about sexual orientation, homophobic experiences in home country, forced sex in home country, current housing instability, and internalized homophobia. Factors independently associated with depression were post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and alcohol use. substance use and depression were associated with negative experiences in home and host country.
