Intimate Partner Violence Among Sexual and Gender Minority In South Asia: A Scoping Review

Background and Purpose: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a critical public health issue globally, affecting individuals across gender identities and sexual orientations. Over the past decade, sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals have experienced higher rates of IPV. While IPV burden and associated health outcomes have been increasingly examined in Western contexts, limited attention has been given to SGM populations in South Asia, where identifying as SGM is often accompanied by deeply ingrained societal stigma and multilevel marginalization. Given the intersection of legal vulnerability, social invisibility, and cultural pressures, regionally grounded research is needed to understand the prevalence, drivers, and consequences of IPV among SGM communities in South Asia. This scoping review aimed to synthesize existing empirical evidence on the prevalence, correlates, associated health outcomes, and service-related responses to IPV among SGM populations in South Asia.

Methods: Following the Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, this study searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and CINAHL without date restrictions. Eligible studies reported empirical data on IPV among SGM populations in South Asia and were published in English. Included studies employed quantitative (n=5), qualitative (n=2), and mixed-methods (n=2) designs. Data were charted using a standardized extraction form capturing general study characteristics and study-specific data. Five reviewers independently extracted data to ensure accuracy.

Results: Out of 37 articles underwent full-text review, nine studies met inclusion criteria, primarily conducted in India (n=8) and Nepal (n=1). Most studies focused on men who have sex with men or transgender individuals (n=6). None utilized validated IPV measurement scales; most relied on one or two self-reported items assessing only physical or sexual violence, leaving psychological and economic abuse substantially underrecognized. Reported IPV prevalence ranged widely from 10% to 69%. IPV was consistently associated with adverse mental health outcomes, substance use, condomless sex, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV risk. Only one study examined IPV perpetration (15.6%), and perpetrators were significantly less likely to engage in HIV care, reflecting a critical gap in the literature. Structural stigma, economic precarity, and social marginalization emerged as key contextual drivers of IPV and its health impacts. No study examined help-seeking processes or developed IPV-related interventions tailored to SGM populations.

Conclusions and Implications: This scoping review provides the first comprehensive synthesis of IPV among SGM populations in South Asia, revealing a substantial burden of violence and its profound health consequences. These findings underscore that IPV is not an isolated phenomenon but is deeply rooted in structural stigma, legal exclusion, and social marginalization, operating asyndetically alongside substance use, mental distress, and HIV vulnerability. Despite its high prevalence, evidence remains fragmented and limited. Future research should prioritize longitudinal, intersectional, and community-engaged approaches alongside the development of culturally responsive measures. Integrating SGM-inclusive IPV prevention and trauma-informed services into existing health and social systems is essential to reduce violence and promote health equity in South Asia.