DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2016.v04i03.086

Pages: 1065-1070

Unlike heterosexuals who do not have a distinct sexual identity, Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) in India are diverse in their sexual identities. However, what the diverse population of MSM has in common is the fact that all of them have sex with other men. As this population is High Risk core group, the aim of the study was to identify sociodemographic & marital profile of the MSM living in a municipal corporation area of Gujarat. The study was conducted from August 2012 to July 2013. 210 respondents were interviewed at hot spots for meeting of MSM, with help of Out Reach Worker (ORWs) and Peer Educators of the CBO. Mean age of the studied population was 31.96 (SD 9.33) years ranging from 17 years to 60 years. All typologies had similar educational status with about 8.1% illiterate among all respondents. Kothis were having overall better economic status compared to Panthis and Double decker. There was no significant difference in terms of marital status comparing ever married with unmarried among the typologies. Mean age at marriage in ever married MSM was 23.57 (95 % CI: 22.92 – 24.21) years. Age at marriage in ever married MSM shows no significant difference among the typologies. Most number of divorcees was among Kothis (7 out of 8 divorcees). There was significant difference in status of having children; between Panthis and Kothi as well as Panthis and Double decker.