Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #109478

Rita Melendez, PhD, Center for Research on Gender and Sexuality, San Francisco State University, 2017 Mission St, Suite 300, San Francisco, CA 94110, 415-437-5114, rmelende@sfsu.edu, Rogério M. Pinto, PhD, HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, Columbia University/NYS Psychiatric Institute, Unit 15, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, and Theresa M. Exner, PhD, HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Dr. - Unit 15, New York, NY 10032.

Background: Although research has demonstrated high rates of HIV infection among male-to-female transgender (MTF) individuals, there has been little research examining how MTFs manage living with HIV. The objective of this study was to access facilitators and barriers to health care among a group of MTFs from New York City. Method: In-depth interviews were conducted in Fall 2003 with 20 MTFs who were clients of a community health care clinic in the Bronx. Participants were interviewed for one to two hours. Interviews covered a range of topics including relationship issues, gender affirmation and health care considerations. Interviews were conducted in both Spanish and English and were coded by three researchers. Results: Identity emerged as an important finding relevant for health care access. Many MTFs did not identify as transgender but rather as women and were more likely to seek health services at a practice that does not target transgender individuals. Additionally, many MTFs interviewed expressed a dislike of “gay” organizations and did not visit health clinics devoted to LGBT health. Many MTFs discussed the importance of taking female hormones and felt that HIV medications would interfere with the effects of the hormones. As a result some MTFs may be hesitant to take HAART if HIV positive. Conclusions: Results indicate that health care practitioners in a diversity of clinics need to be familiar with transgender health care needs and social concerns. Health care professionals need to be better informed about the effects of hormones especially in combination with HIV medications.

Learning Objectives: Objectives of my presentation are

• To learn about how male-to-female (MTFs) transgender individuals are at risk for HIV
• To qualitatively explore the health care concerns of MTFs with regard to HIV
• To make recommendations for health care changes to better accommodate MTFs with HIV care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation