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317784
Unique considerations for HIV prevention research with Latina transgender women and Latino men who have sex with men


Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Christina J. Sun, PhD, MS, School of Community Health, Portland State University, Portland, OR
Lilli Mann, MPH, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Beth Reboussin, PhD, Biostatistics, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Manuel Garcia, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Division of Public Health Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Jorge Alonzo, JD, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Scott Rhodes, PhD, MPH, Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
Background: Latina transgender women and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV. Often the HIV needs of transgender women are discussed in combination with those of MSM, and little research explores the specific health risks of transgender women. We compared the prevention needs of Latina transgender women and Latino MSM.

Methods: Our community-based participatory research partnership recruited social networks of Latina transgender women and Latino MSM (n=186) in North Carolina to participate in an HIV prevention intervention. Using baseline data, we conducted descriptive and bivariable analyses that accounted for clustering to compare sociodemographics, psychosocial characteristics, and HIV risk behaviors.

Results: On average, participants were 30 years old (range=18-61) and had lived in the US for 10 years (range=.25-27); 75% emigrated from Mexico. Latina transgender women (n=33) reported lower monthly income (p<.05), educational attainment (p<.001), and acculturation (p<.01) compared to Latino MSM (n=153). They were more likely to report being depressed (p<.05) and identified more barriers to seeking or obtaining health care (p<.05); however, they reported having very good or excellent health (p=.07) and higher community attachment (p<.05). Latina transgender women had lower HIV knowledge (p<.01) and condom use skills (p=.09) and were less likely to have used a condom during most recent sex (p=.07).

Conclusion: HIV risk is greater and resources (e.g., income, access to care) seem fewer for transgender women. When designing interventions, we should consider whether to intervene with transgender women and MSM at the same time or separately.

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Explain different considerations for conducting HIV prevention research with Latina transgender women and Latino MSM Identify unique HIV prevention needs of Latina transgender women

Keyword(s): Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT), Latinos

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have conducted extensive research in HIV, focused primarily on vulnerable and underserved populations. I am currently a postdoctoral research fellow working on multiple NIH- and CDC-funded CBPR studies focusing on HIV prevention within Latino populations/communities. I conceptualized and conducted the analyses.
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.

Back to: 4325.0: Innovations in HIV Screening, Prevention, and Treatment