Sexual behavior of transgenders and their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS in an Urban Area of Eastern India

• Published in: Indian journal of public health Vol. 61; no. 2; pp. 141 - 143
• Main Authors: Sinha, Abhik, Goswami, Dipendra Narayan, Haldar, Dibakar, Mallik, Sarmila, Bisoi, Sukamal, Karmakar, Prasanta Ray
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.04.2017; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Analysis; Bisexuality; Condoms; Drug abuse; Empowerment; Gender aspects; Gender identity; Health aspects; Health risk assessment; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; NGOs; Nongovernmental organizations; Risk factors; Risk taking; Sex; Sexual assault; Sexual behavior; sexual violence; Sexually transmitted diseases; STD; Surveys; Transgender people; Urban areas; India; West Bengal India
• ISSN: 0019-557X; 2229-7693
• DOI: 10.4103/ijph.IJPH_248_14

Transgender (TG) people experience a gender identity that is different from their anatomical sex. For their high-risk sex behavior, they are important group for targeted intervention of HIV/AIDS. The objective of the study was to find the sexual behavior of TG people and to assess few aspects of their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS. This cross-sectional survey was done from June to August 2012, in field practice area of "Kosish," a nongovernmental organization run by TGs in Alipore of Kolkata metropolitan city, India. Information was collected by interviewing 90 TG of 11 selected hotspots using a predesigned questionnaire. Results revealed that 4.5% were illiterate. Drug abuse was reported by 22.2% participants. Inconsistent condom use was found. Venereal disease research laboratory reactivity was found in 11.11%. Nearly 16.7% had experienced sexual violence in the past 3 months. Thus, interventions for overall empowerment of the TGs are recommended.