Current Research Gaps: A Global Systematic Review of HIV and Sexually Transmissible Infections among Transgender Populations

Citation

MacCarthy, Sarah; Poteat, Tonia; Xia, Zhiyu; Roque, Nicolette L.; Hyun Jin Kim, Ashley; Baral, Stefan D.; & Reisner, Sari L. (2017). Current Research Gaps: A Global Systematic Review of HIV and Sexually Transmissible Infections among Transgender Populations. Sexual Health, 14(5), 456-468. PMCID: PMC6993920

Abstract

Transgender populations are heavily burdened by HIV and other sexually transmissible infections (STIs). However, data on co-infection with HIV and STIs among transgender people are limited. A systematic review was conducted of peer-reviewed articles and conference abstracts between January 2010 and November 2015 that focused on HIV and STI infections among transgender populations globally. The literature was synthesised and opportunities for improving health research were commented on. Few studies reported HIV-STI co-infection (n=4), while the majority of studies reported HIV and STI infections separately (n=23). Most studies were conducted outside of the USA (n=19), and all but one of these studies reported data on transgender women only. Among USA-based studies (n=8), several reported data on both transgender men and transgender women (n=3), whereas other studies reported exclusively on transgender men (n=1) or transgender women (n=4). Understanding HIV and STIs among transgender people requires research that simultaneously considers multilevel drivers of vulnerabilities. More data are needed on how the interaction of individual determinants, including biological risks of transmission, programmatic determinants such as service-delivery models and policy-level determinants including institutionalised stigma in healthcare settings, influence the HIV- and STI-related outcomes of transgender populations. Leveraging the knowledge of transgender-specific determinants of HIV and STIs should guide the content and approaches to future HIV and STI prevention and treatment efforts.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sh17096

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2017

Journal Title

Sexual Health

Author(s)

MacCarthy, Sarah
Poteat, Tonia
Xia, Zhiyu
Roque, Nicolette L.
Hyun Jin Kim, Ashley
Baral, Stefan D.
Reisner, Sari L.

PMCID

PMC6993920

ORCiD

Poteat - 0000-0001-6541-3787