title: Prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection among transgender men in Rawalpindi (Pakistan).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transgender males are at high risk for sexually transmitted diseases including AIDS caused by the notorious Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), yet little consideration is given by the policy makers, researchers and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) towards this sensitive issue in Pakistan.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we have investigated the prevalence of HIV infection among 306 transgender males with a median age of 29 years (range 15-64 years) residing in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Rapid HIV antibody-screening methods including the strip test and Enzyme Linked Immuno-absorbent tests were employed to detect HIV antibodies among the subjects. For further confirmation, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was carried out. Statistical analytical techniques utilized included logistic regression and chi-square.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HIV-1 was found to be the predominant viral subtype. PCR confirmed 21.6% (Confidence Interval 0.17-0.26) of the respondents were reported being HIV positive. 15.7% of the transgender men who shave at home and 13.7% of the transgender men who were educated below 5th grade were found to have HIV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows a very high prevalence of HIV among transgender males. Unawareness among these individuals about the ramifications of this infection owes largely to lack of education. The spread rate is alarming and HIV epidemic is imminent if awareness is not widespread.
authors.affiliation: Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan. hashaamakhtar@gmail.com
authors.forename: Hashaam
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.forename: Yasmeen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Badshah
authors.forename: Samar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.forename: Naghmana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanwal
authors.forename: Maha Nadeem
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Akhtar
authors.forename: Najam Us Sahar Sadaf
authors.initials: NU
authors.lastname: Zaidi
authors.forename: Ishtiaq
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Qadri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D063106:Transgender Persons; D055815:Young Adult; D005260:Female
chemical_list: D015483:HIV Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral