TY - JOUR
T1 - Risk perception and vulnerabilities for HIV/AIDS among transgender women in Brazil
T2 - mixed methods approach
AU - Ribeiro dos Santos, Paulie Marcelly
AU - Cardoso dos Santos, Kamilla
AU - Rodrigues de Oliveira, Brunna
AU - Silva Magalhães, Larissa
AU - Amorim Caetano, Karlla Antonieta
AU - da Silva Carvalho Vila, Vanessa
AU - Rezende Pacheco, Leonora
AU - dos Santos Carneiro, Megmar Aparecida
AU - Ferreira Dias, Sónia
AU - Sttaciarini, Jeanne Marie
AU - Araujo Teles, Sheila
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors acknowledge the Foundation for Research Support in Goias/Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa de Goiás for funding this study.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2022
Y1 - 2022
N2 - Transgender women (TW) are a key population in the dynamics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) dissemination, although little is known about their perceptions of HIV risk. In this embedded, nested, mixed-methods study, we assessed factors associated with condomless sexual intercourse among TW and explored their risk perceptions and vulnerabilities regarding HIV exposure. The first phase involved a cross-sectional study, followed by qualitative interviews. Condomless sexual intercourse during their last sexual encounter was reported by 37.3% of participants, and 16.1% previously tested positive for HIV. Age older than 21 years, single status, and being a sex worker were protective factors for condomless intercourse. Otherwise, TW who reported a past sexual partner with a known sexually transmitted infection and those aware of post-exposure prophylaxis had a greater risk of condomless sexual intercourse (p < 0.05) during their most recent encounter. The qualitative interviews revealed that, despite TW being aware of their risk of contracting HIV, their vulnerabilities overlapped their risk perception, making them trivialize or ignore the risk. This study will help to understand the HIV dynamics among TW and contribute to further health research, education, policymaking, and planning associated with specific health strategies to promote the sexual health of TW.
AB - Transgender women (TW) are a key population in the dynamics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) dissemination, although little is known about their perceptions of HIV risk. In this embedded, nested, mixed-methods study, we assessed factors associated with condomless sexual intercourse among TW and explored their risk perceptions and vulnerabilities regarding HIV exposure. The first phase involved a cross-sectional study, followed by qualitative interviews. Condomless sexual intercourse during their last sexual encounter was reported by 37.3% of participants, and 16.1% previously tested positive for HIV. Age older than 21 years, single status, and being a sex worker were protective factors for condomless intercourse. Otherwise, TW who reported a past sexual partner with a known sexually transmitted infection and those aware of post-exposure prophylaxis had a greater risk of condomless sexual intercourse (p < 0.05) during their most recent encounter. The qualitative interviews revealed that, despite TW being aware of their risk of contracting HIV, their vulnerabilities overlapped their risk perception, making them trivialize or ignore the risk. This study will help to understand the HIV dynamics among TW and contribute to further health research, education, policymaking, and planning associated with specific health strategies to promote the sexual health of TW.
KW - HIV
KW - risk perception
KW - Transgender women
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85129376334&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09540121.2022.2067316
DO - 10.1080/09540121.2022.2067316
M3 - Article
C2 - 35442843
AN - SCOPUS:85129376334
SN - 0954-0121
JO - AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
JF - AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
ER -
