A new analysis published in PLOS ONE highlights the worldwide prevalence of HIV among transgender people, demonstrating the need for continued prevention efforts.
Transgender individuals have an increased risk of HIV infection, due to factors which are numerous, complex, and dynamic. Recent years have seen updates in HIV prevention measures and so it is important to update knowledge of HIV among transgender individuals in order to inform further prevention efforts.
Applying a statistical method called random-effects modeling, the researchers conducted a meta-analysis of all 98 peer-reviewed publications on HIV prevalence among transgender individuals that appeared between January 2000 and January 2019.
The researchers found that, during the study period, 19.9% (confidence interval [CI] 14.7–25.1%) of trans feminine individuals were HIV positive, as were 2.56% (CI 0.0–5.9%) of trans masculine individuals. Compared with other individuals aged 15 and over, trans feminine people were 66 times more likely (51.4– 84.4) to have HIV, and trans masculine people were 6.8 times more likely (3.6–13.1).
The authors note that their findings counter presumptions that trans masculine individuals are not at risk for HIV. Meanwhile, they found, prevalence varied in different geographic regions, with Africa and Latin America appearing to be more impacted.
Overall, these findings reaffirm that transgender individuals face a disproportionate burden of HIV. The researchers call for increased efforts to meet the unique HIV prevention and care needs of this population.
Continued monitoring will require more data and research, especially to determine how prevalence is influenced by pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)—medications that prevent HIV infection. Such research will be especially important considering that the new study only included data up to 2019, and PrEP treatment has expanded since then.
Source: MedicalXpress
