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Reduced ART adherence, viral suppression exist among transgender women
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Despite similar access to HIV treatments, adherence and durable viral suppression rates among transgender women did not appear to match those of nontransgender persons, according to recently published data.
Additionally, transgender women were more often socioeconomically marginalized and in need of supportive services covering basic needs such as food and housing, according to CDC researchers.
Using 2009-2011 data from the Medical Monitoring Project — a cross-sectional, population-based HIV surveillance system — researchers investigated the clinical and behavioral characteristics of 13,167 U.S. adults who had visited medical care facilities for HIV-related issues at least once from January to April during each data collection cycle year. Data concerning self-identified gender, demographics, behavior and clinical characteristics were collected through interviews or medical records.
Among study participants, 1.3% self-identified as a transgender women. More than 80% were non-white and, compared with nontransgender persons, were more likely to earn less than $20,000 annually, have no health insurance and be homeless.
No significant differences were observed in time since diagnosis, stage of disease, CD4 cell count, ART prescription rates and viral suppression upon most recent viral load test. Compared with nontransgender men, however, transgender women were less likely to report suppressed viral load for all tests during the past year and 100% adherence to all ART doses in the past 3 days. In addition, transgender women were more frequently in need of HIV case management, ART adherence support, HIV prevention counseling, mental health services, meal services, domestic violence services, transportation services and housing services compared with nontransgender men.
“We found few differences between HIV-infected transgender women and nontransgender persons in care with respect to receipt of most care, treatment and supportive services; however the noted disparities in durable viral suppression and unmet needs for basic services should be explored further,” the researchers concluded. – by Dave Muoio
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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