title: The Role of Structural Barriers in Risky Sexual Behavior, Victimization and Readiness to Change HIV/STI-Related Risk Behavior Among Transgender Women.
abstract: This study examines the role of structural barriers experienced by a community-based sample of 63 HIV-positive and negative transgender women that may elevate HIV infection and transmission risks. Separate hierarchical linear multiple regression analyses tested the association between structural barriers (e.g., unemployment, lack of food, shelter) and condomless anal sex acts, abuse, and readiness to change risk behavior, while controlling for other related factors. Among this primarily Hispanic and African-American sample, HIV-positive and negative transgender women experienced a similar number of structural barriers and experiencing structural barriers was significantly associated with an increased number of condomless anal sex acts (p = .002), victimization (p = .000) and a decreased readiness to change HIV-related risk behavior (p = .014). Structural-level interventions are needed to address this elevated risk among this underserved and hard-to-reach population.
authors.affiliation: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. jraiford@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Jerris L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Raiford
authors.affiliation: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Grace J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Raekiela D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: LaGuardia Community College, City University of New York, Long Island City, Queens, NY, USA.|Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.|Center for HIV Educational Studies and Training, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Bimbi
authors.affiliation: Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.|Center for HIV Educational Studies and Training, New York, NY, USA.|Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Parsons
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D063106:Transgender Persons / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male
keywords: African American; Condom use; HIV; Hispanic; Structural barriers; Transgender