265843 Substance Abuse and HIV Prevention Intervention Study for Transgender Women of Color

Monday, October 29, 2012

Tooru Nemoto, PhD , Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA
Mariko Iwamoto, MA , Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA
Elnaz Eilkhani, MPH , Public Health Institute, Oakland, CA
Alvan Quamina, JD, PhD , AIDS Project East Bay, Oakland, CA
Armando Hernandez, MPH , Instituto Familiar de la Raza, San Francisco, CA
Kevin Bynes, MEd , AIDS Project East Bay, Oakland, CA
Andrea Horne , AIDS Project East Bay, Oakland, CA
Celia Gomez , Instituto Familiar de la Raza, San Francisco, CA
Issues: Transgender women of color are at high risk for substance abuse and HIV/STIs. The development of evidence-based HIV and substance abuse prevention programs for transgender women is essential and necessary. Description: Transgender Empowerment and Motivational Intervention (TEAM-I) is a collaborative community-based randomized controlled study targeting high risk African American and Latina transgender women in San Francisco and Alameda Counties. As of February 2012, 85 participants have enrolled in this study. Participants are recruited through community outreach based on purposive sampling. Health Educators were trained for motivational interviewing techniques to reduce substance abuse and HIV risk behaviors following a curriculum which addresses specific issues among transgender women (e.g., transphobia, sex work). Participants are randomly assigned to Brief Intervention (two 2-hour counseling sessions), Motivational Enhancement Intervention (six 2-hour counseling sessions) or a control group. Participants' risk behaviors are assessed at baseline, 3-month and 6-month follow-ups using a structured questionnaire. Health Educators' intervention sessions are closely monitored by a clinical supervisor for assuring fidelity. Lessons learned: Partnership with community based organizations is essential to provide expertise in reaching/serving target populations. Collaboration with a community advisory board (CAB) is necessary to ensure that the intervention curriculum and procedures are appropriate and sensitive to the target population. Health Educators who are respected in the transgender community play crucial roles for recruitment and retention of participants. Recommendations: Rigorously implementing a randomized controlled study in transgender communities is feasible in collaboration with CAB. Upon the completion of data gathering, the effectiveness of intervention will be examined.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1.Identify current health issues including HIV/STIs in transgender communities. 2.Analyze on-going substance abuse and HIV prevention intervention study for transgender women of color. 3.Identify and discuss implications for developing future substance abuse and HIV prevention programs for transgender women.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Substance Abuse

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Dr. Nemoto is Research Program Director at the Public Health Institute and has been engaging in substance abuse and HIV prevention research for underserved and stigmatized populations, such as transgender people, Asian Pacific Islander MSM, drug users and Asian female sex workers. He has also worked with colleagues in Thailand, Vietnam, and Japan for substance abuse and HIV prevention research.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.