1. STIGMA AND THE SYNDEMIC OF HIV-RELATED HEALTH RISK BEHAVIORS IN A DIVERSE SAMPLE OF TRANSGENDER WOMEN
- Author
-
Tooru Nemoto, Mei-Fen Yang, Mariko Iwamoto, Don Operario, and Sari L. Reisner
- Subjects
Social Psychology ,business.industry ,Psychological intervention ,Social environment ,medicine.disease ,Transgender women ,Stigma (anatomy) ,Nonprobability sampling ,Alcohol intoxication ,Syndemic ,Environmental health ,medicine ,Health risk ,business ,Social psychology - Abstract
This study examined HIV-related health risk behaviors–unprotected anal intercourse, alcohol intoxication, and drug use–and their association with stigma in a sample of transgender women. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 191 transgender women recruited through purposive sampling in San Francisco, CA. Unprotected anal intercourse, alcohol intoxication, and illicit drug use were significantly intercorrelated, suggesting the presence of a “syndemic” among these HIV-related behavioral health risks. In multivariable analyses controlling for sociodemographic and individual health characteristics, stigma was independently associated with greater levels of unprotected anal intercourse, illicit drug use, and a composite index of the 3 risk behaviors. Findings highlight a need for interventions to address stigma and the social context of unprotected sex, alcohol intoxication, and drug use, which may contribute to HIV risk among transgender women.
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF