"It's behaviors, not identity": Attitudes and beliefs related to HIV risk and pre-exposure prophylaxis among transgender women in the Southeastern United States

HIV prevalence is high among transgender women (TGW) in the Southeastern U.S. Uptake of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is low among TGW nationwide. We aimed to explore beliefs associated with PrEP among TGW in the Southeastern U.S., framed by the Health Belief Model. HIV-negative TGW ≥18 years...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inPloS one Vol. 17; no. 1; p. e0262205
Main Authors Van Gerwen, Olivia T, Austin, Erika L, Camino, Andres F, Odom, L Victoria, Muzny, Christina A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Public Library of Science 27.01.2022
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Alabama
Anti-HIV Agents - therapeutic use
Attitude
Behavior
Biology and Life Sciences
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
Demographic aspects
Disease prevention
Female
Focus Groups
Frustration
Gender
Health aspects
Health care
Health risks
HIV
HIV infection
HIV Infections - prevention & control
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Infectious diseases
Informed consent
Male
Medicine
Medicine and Health Sciences
Men
Pandemics
People and places
Population
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
Prophylaxis
Qualitative research
Questionnaires
Risk factors
Sexual Partners
Sexually transmitted diseases
Social networks
STD
Transgender people
Transgender persons
Transgender Persons - psychology
Transsexualism
Women
Womens health
Young Adult
Alabama
United States
United States > US
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:HIV prevalence is high among transgender women (TGW) in the Southeastern U.S. Uptake of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is low among TGW nationwide. We aimed to explore beliefs associated with PrEP among TGW in the Southeastern U.S., framed by the Health Belief Model. HIV-negative TGW ≥18 years old in Alabama participated in virtual focus group discussions. Authors coded and amended transcripts to explore emerging themes. Between July-December 2020, 17 TGW participated in 4 sessions. Mean age was 28.1±8.5 years. Several themes were identified: frustration with conflation of transgender identity and HIV risk, inappropriate transgender representation in PrEP advertising, concerns for interactions between PrEP and hormone therapy, perception that PrEP is meant for cisgender men who have sex with men and limited trans-affirming healthcare. Nuanced messaging is necessary to properly educate and engage TGW in HIV prevention strategies including PrEP given the diversity of this population.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
Competing Interests: I have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: OTVG has received research grant support from Gilead Sciences, Inc. and Abbott Molecular. CAM has received research grant support from NIH/NIAID, Gilead Sciences, Inc., and Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; serves as a consultant for Abbott Molecular, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cepheid, and BioFire Diagnostics; receives honoraria from Elsevier, Abbott Molecular, Cepheid, Becton Dickinson, Roche Diagnostics, and Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. All other authors have no relevant disclosures. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0262205