title: Correlates of HIV infection among transfemales, San Francisco, 2010: results from a respondent-driven sampling study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the use of respondent-driven sampling (RDS) among a high-risk population of transfemales. We also obtained up-to-date epidemiological data on HIV infection and related correlates among this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the utility of RDS in recruiting a sample of 314 transfemales in San Francisco, California, from August to December 2010 by examining patterns of recruitment and assessing network sizes and equilibrium. We used RDS weights to conduct bivariate and multivariate analyses of correlates of HIV infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample had moderate homophily and reached equilibrium at the eighth wave of recruitment. Weighted HIV prevalence among transfemales was 39.5%. Being a transfemale of color, using injection drugs, and having low educational attainment were independently associated with HIV infection and having a high number of sexual partners and identifying as female were not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RDS performed well and allowed for analyses that are generalizable to the population from which the sample was drawn. Transfemales in San Francisco are disproportionately affected by HIV compared with all other groups except men who have sex with men who also inject drugs.
authors.affiliation: San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA.
authors.forename: Jenna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rapues
authors.forename: Erin C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Tracey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Packer
authors.forename: Grant N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Colfax
authors.forename: H Fisher
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Raymond
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012495:San Francisco / Q000453:epidemiology; D012747:Sexual Partners; D063106:Transgender Persons; D008297:Male