XVII Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association Symposium
31 October - 4 November 2001, Galveston, Texas, U.S.A.

HIV/AIDS among Transgender People: Findings from Two Needs Assessments in Chicago and Philadelphia

KENAGY, GRETCHEN U.S.A.
Co-author: Wendy Bostwick (U.S.A.)

Objectives: This study explores HIV and AIDS among transgendered people. It is the intent of this study to facilitate, through a needs assessment survey, the development of HIV-related health and social services that are targeted specifically for transgender people.

Methods: A needs assessment survey developed in collaboration with transgender people was conducted in Philadelphia and replicated in Chicago. Data were collected through face-to-face structured interviews. Transgendered people were recruited and trained to administer the needs assessment survey. Modified snowball sampling was used to recruit respondents. Interviews were conducted in places of respondents’ choosing including apartments, restaurants and on the street so they would feel as safe and comfortable as possible. Respondents were asked questions on a variety of topics such as mental health, physical health, violence and abuse, suicide, and HIV/AIDS. Information pertaining to HIV/AIDS is reported.

Results: The sample size for the study is 192 (Philadelphia, N=81; Chicago, N-111). Descriptive statistics are provided on a variety of issues pertaining to HIV/AIDS including HIV status, knowledge and risk. Logistic regressions are used to explore the relationships between respondents’ demographic information, gender identity (male-to-female, female-to-male) and HIV/AIDS related variables.