title: Access to HIV Care and Support Services for African American Transwomen Living with HIV.
abstract: Low access to HIV care and support has led to survival rates for transwomen that are half that of other populations at risk for HIV. Within the population, HIV disproportionately impacts African American transwomen. Interventions to increase access to HIV care and support are needed to better serve those most affected and vulnerable within the population. We conducted a study of barriers and facilitators to care and support services for African American transwomen to fill a gap in the literature to improve access for this particularly impacted population. A total of 10 in-depth interviews were conducted with African American transwomen living with HIV who lived outside the metro area of San Francisco. Three overarching thematic topics emerged-gender stigma, peer, and institutional distrust - giving insight into African American transwomen's barriers to HIV care and support services. A number of factors within these themes impacted access, such as whether organizations offered gender-related care, the geography of organizations as it relates to safe transportation and location, confidentiality and trust of peers and organizations, and trauma. Specific instrumental, institutional and emotional supports are provided that that may increase access to care and support services for African American transwomen living with HIV.
authors.affiliation: Senior Research Scientist in the Center for Public Health Research at the San Francisco Department of Public Health in San Francisco, California, USA.
authors.forename: Erin C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Doctoral student in the Medical Sociology program at the University of California, San Francisco and a Project Coordinator at the Center for Public Health Research at the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arayasirikul
authors.affiliation: Research Analyst with the Prevention and Public Health Group at the University of California, San Francisco and a Research Associate at the San Francisco Department of Public Health.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johnson
keywords: HIV/AIDS; adherence / compliance; culture / cultural competence; ethnicity; gender; health care disparities; interviews; marginalized population; patient-provider; qualitative; qualitative analysis; relationships; research; semistructured; stigma; transgender; trauma; violence; vulnerable populations