Breaking the Silence: Exploring Intimate Partner Violence in Myanmar's LGBT Community

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) minorities are vulnerable to intimate partner violence (IPV), a major public health issue. This study investigated IPV in Yangon and Mandalay, Myanmar, using a snowball sampling with a self-administered online questionnaire. Independent variables were based on the World Health Organization's (WHO) ecological model, and IPV was assessed using a modified WHO Violence Against Women Questionnaire. Among 441 participants (average age 27 +/- 12 years), 76.42% experienced IPV: psychological (73%), physical (49%), and sexual (28%). Factors from multivariable logistic regression that contributed to higher odds of IPV included childhood violence; conflicts among family members and/or peers; separation or break-up with partners; witnessing violence; neighborhood characteristics such as poverty, residential instability, and high crime rates; and societal norms: justification of partner violence, protection of family honor against LGBT people, parents' right to use violence against LGBT children, the belief that being LGBT is a punishment for sins, and forcing LGBT individuals into religious institutions to 'cure' them-while family support reduced the likelihood of IPV. These findings inform policymakers and practitioners to design effective interventions and support systems for prevention and response to IPV among LGBT individuals and foster a safer and more inclusive environment in Myanmar.