title: Effects of In-country and Cross-Border Mobility on Condom Use Among Transgender Women (hijras) in Bangladesh: A Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: In Bangladesh transgender women (hijras) are thought to be highly mobile that may be an impediment to condom use. This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the extent of mobility of hijras, in-country and cross-border, and whether mobility affects condom use in anal intercourse. Hijras ≥15 years of age, receiving services from the Global Fund supported HIV prevention program were enrolled. A behavioral questionnaire was administered and blood was tested for antibodies to HIV and syphilis. Of 889 hijras sampled, 41.3 % never traveled, 26.4 % traveled in-country and 32.3 % crossed the border in the last year. HIV and active syphilis was at 0.8 and 1.8 % respectively. Among hijras who crossed the border condom use was less likely in last anal intercourse (AOR 0.68; 95 % CI 0.48-0.96), and consistently with new (AOR 0.59; 95 % CI 0.34-1.01) and regular clients (AOR 0.45; 95 % CI 0.27-0.76) in the last week. This study concludes that in Bangladesh hijras are highly mobile and cross-border mobility negatively affects condom use.
authors.affiliation: HIV and AIDS Program, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Sarani, Mohakahli, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh. akmrana@icddrb.org.
authors.forename: A K M Masud
authors.initials: AKMM
authors.lastname: Rana
authors.affiliation: HIV and AIDS Program, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Sarani, Mohakahli, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md Masud
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Reza
authors.affiliation: HIV and AIDS Program, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Sarani, Mohakahli, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Md Shah
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Alam
authors.affiliation: HIV and AIDS Program, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Sarani, Mohakahli, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Mahmuda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khatun
authors.affiliation: HIV and AIDS Program, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Sarani, Mohakahli, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Sharful Islam
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: HIV and AIDS Program, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Sarani, Mohakahli, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Tasnim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Azim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001459:Bangladesh; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D021841:Safe Sex; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D063106:Transgender Persons; D014195:Travel; D008297:Male
keywords: Bangladesh; Condoms; HIV; Mobility; Syphilis; Transgender women