1. Depression among Male Having Sex with Male (MSM) in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal Shrawan Pokharel / Shyam P Lohani / David Wilson

2. Background: Depression is associated with negative health and psychosocial outcomes and may lead to greater challenges for marginalized population like male having sex with male (MSM). Our objective was to assess depression among MSM community

3. Contd….. Refusal of education; Refusal of or removal from employment; Denial of the right to marry; Lack of or reduced confidentiality; Rejection by families, friends and communities; Retardation; Physical attack, including murder or even suicide etc..can be some of the impact of depression.

4. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional survey was conducted among MSM at BDS and its sister organizations with in Kathmandu valley. The sample of 140 respondents was selected by purposive snowball sampling method..

5. Contd…. Beck Depression Inventory II was used to measure depression. Data entry and analysis was done using SPSS 16.0. Categorical variables were compared using Chi Square Test while Odds ratio was calculated to measure the associations between different variables (dependent and independent ).

6. Results: A total 140 respondents were included in the study. Their age ranged from 16 to 50 years, mean 26.3 years (±5.9 years). Majority of them (71.4%) were single and employed (69.3%). About 41% earn NRs 5000- 15000 monthly. Vast majority of respondents had moderate level of depression and there was statistically significant difference between respondent of age group 16-25 and 26-50 years only on difficulty in concentration (p=0.035). There was no statistically significant association between age and variables of depression inventory.

7. Conclusion: MSM having moderate level of depression clearly demands psychosocial counseling specifically of those with younger age group. In our study, these have not caused in increased suicidal thoughts; however, larger and more systematic investigation would be helpful in delineating depression among MSM.

8. Acknowledgement Mr. Sunil Babu Pant,Director,Blue Diamond Society (BDS),Kathmandu Mr. Subash Pokharel,BDS,Kathmandu Mr.Sanjeev Gurung,Cruise Aids,Kathmandu Mr.Manoranjan Kumar Baidhya,Parichaya Samaj,Lalitpur. Ms. Jyoti Thapa,BDS DIC,Bhaktapur. Mr. Basu Guragain,Gay Office,Kapurdhara,Kathmandu Mr.Subash Mali,Kalanki DIC

9. THANK YOU !!!!!!!!