AEGiS-14IAC: HIV prevention and educational needs of trans youth.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

HIV prevention and educational needs of trans youth.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. TuOrE1159)

Sausa LA
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States

BACKGROUND: A qualitative study was conducted which examined the HIV prevention and educational needs of trans youth in Philadelphia. A trans youth was defined as including transgendered and transexual youth, ages 14-21, who reassigned the sex they were labeled at birth, and/or whose gender expression is considered by a broader society as inappropriate for their sex. This study focused on the distinct needs of trans youth related to HIV prevention, health care services, and education from their point of view, the different needs among the sub-identity groups of trans youth, and specific recommendations for health service providers and sexuality educators.

METHODS: Trans youth are a complex population with regards to gender identity and gender expression and are often silenced by discrimination and oppression, thus open-ended, semi-structured interviews were selected for data collection to give this unique community a voice. Individual interviews and member check interviews, were the primary data sources which provided in-depth, detailed descriptions of the personal perspectives and experiences of trans youth today, regarding HIV prevention and education.

RESULTS: Findings explored how and why trans youth place themselves at risk for HIV transmission, the different health care needs among various trans youth identities were examined, and the current barriers to health care services and need for trans-specific HIV/AIDS outreach, services, education, and training for health service providers were highlighted.

CONCLUSIONS: A reported high seroprevalence rate, a low perceived HIV risk yet a significant occurrence of risk behaviors for HIV transmission, and lack of trans-specific HIV prevention outreach, education, and health care services demonstrates a critical need for improvements on current services for trans youth. Specific guidelines and recommendations to improve and create new outreach, education, and HIV/AIDS services for trans youth were discussed.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Health Services Needs and Demand, HIV Infections, Risk-Taking, Adolescent Health Services, Health Education, HIV Seropositivity, Sex Behavior, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Patient Education, Adolescent Psychology, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Philadelphia, Adolescent, Human, education, prevention & control

020707
TuOrE1159