The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #65974

Tooru Nemoto, PhD¹, Don Operario, PhD², JoAnne Keatley, MSW³, and Lei Han, PhD². (1) Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of Califonia, San Francisco, 74 New Montgomery St. Suite #200, San Francisco, CA 94105, 415-597-9391, tnemoto@psg.ucsf.edu, (2) Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California San Francisco, 74 New Montgomery Street, Suite 250, San Francisco, CA 94105, (3) Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, 1145 Bush Street, Second Floor, San Francisco, CA 94109

Objective: To examine the relationship between substance use and HIV risk behaviors among male-to-female (MTF) transgenders of color, including African Americans, Asian and Pacific Islanders (APIs), and Latinas. Methods: Participants (n=332) were recruited through street outreach and referrals. Results: Self-reported HIV prevalence was 26% (African American 42%; API 13%; Latina 24%). Common substances used during the past month included alcohol (56%), marijuana (38%), methamphetamine (24%), crack (13%), and ecstasy (9%). African Americans reported the highest use of marijuana and crack; Latinas reported the highest use of ecstasy; APIs reported the highest use of methamphetamine. 24% reported history of injection drug use; 5% reported IDU during the past month. Unprotected receptive anal sex (URAS) during the past month was reported by 47% of the participants with private primary partners, 26% with casual non-paying partners, and 12% with commercial sex partners. Multivariate analyses showed that the single predictor of URAS with primary partners was sex while under the influence of drugs (OR=2.2, CI=1.0, 4.6); predictors of URAS sex with casual partners were HIV positive status (OR=3.8, CI=1.1, 12.4) and sex while under the influence of drugs (OR=3.5, CI=1.0, 12.4); and predictors of URAS with commercial sex partners were African American (OR=4.5, CI=1.1, 17.9) and monthly income less than $500 (OR=8.5, CI=1.6, 44.2). Conclusions: Substance use significantly influenced URAS with non-commercial sex partners. This relationship might be explain their high HIV infection rates. HIV prevention programs targeting this population must address substance abuse issues and risk reduction within a context of private relationships.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• Identify the prevalent substances used and sexual risk behaviors in the male-to-female transgender community.
• Become aware of the sociodemographic correlates of substance use and sexual risk behavior in this community.
• Prioritize male-to-female transgenders as a population in urgent need of further public health research, HIV intervention, and drug treatment programs.

Keywords: Special Populations, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.