Both/And: Mixed methods analysis of network composition, communication patterns, and socio-economic support within social networks of transgender women involved in sex work in Lima, Peru.

INTRODUCTION: Social networks contribute to normative reinforcement of HIV prevention strategies, knowledge sharing, and social capital, but little research has characterized the social networks of transgender women (TW) in Latin America. We conducted a mixed methods analysis of three network clusters of TW in Lima, Peru, to evaluate network composition, types of support exchanged, and patterns of communication. METHODS: We recruited TW residing in or affiliated with three "casas trans" (houses shared among TW) in Lima between April-May 2018. Eligible participants were 18 or older, self-reported HIV-negative, and reported recent intercourse with a cis-male partner. Participants completed demographic questionnaires, social network interviews, and semi-structured interviews to assess egocentric network structures, support exchanged, and communication patterns. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using Stata v14.1 and Atlas.ti, respectively. RESULTS: Of 20 TW, median age was 26 years and 100% reported involvement in commercial sex work. Respondents identified 161 individuals they interacted with in the past month (alters), of whom 33% were TW and 52% family members. 70% of respondents reported receiving emotional support from family, while 30% received financial support and instrumental support from family. Of the 13 (65%) respondents who nominated someone as a source of HIV prevention support (HPS), the majority (69%) nominated other TW. In a GEE regression analysis adjusted for respondent education and region of birth, being a family member was associated with lower likelihood of providing financial support (aOR 0.21, CI 0.08-0.54), instrumental support (aOR 0.16, CI 0.06-0.39), and HPS (aOR 0.18, CI 0.05-0.64). In qualitative interviews, most respondents identified a cis-female family member as their most trusted and closest network member, but other TW were more often considered sources of day-to-day support, including HPS. CONCLUSION: TW have diverse social networks where other TW are key sources of knowledge sharing and support, and family members may also represent important and influential components. Within these complex networks, TW may selectively solicit and provide support from different network alters according to specific contexts and needs. HIV prevention messaging could consider incorporating network-based interventions with TW community input and outreach efforts for supportive family members.

Social Networks Play a Complex Role in HIV Prevention Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and the Uptake of PrEP Through Transgender Women Communities Centered Around Three "Casas Trans" in Lima, Peru: A Qualitative Study.

Transgender women's (TW) social networks may facilitate HIV prevention information dissemination and normative reinforcement. We conducted a qualitative study of social networks among 20 TW affiliated with 3 "casas trans" (houses shared among TW) in Lima, Peru, using diffusion of innovations theory to investigate community-level HIV prevention norms. Participants completed demographic questionnaires, social network interviews, and semistructured in-depth interviews. Median age was 26 and all participants engaged in sex work. Interviews revealed high HIV prevention knowledge and positive attitudes, but low engagement in HIV prevention. Respondents primarily discussed HIV prevention with other TW. Network members' opinions about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) frequently influenced respondents' personal beliefs, including mistrust of healthcare personnel, concern that PrEP efficacy was unproven, fear of adverse effects, and frustration regarding difficulty accessing PrEP. Patterns of influence in TW networks may be leveraged to improve uptake of HIV prevention tools, including PrEP.

Both/And: Mixed methods analysis of network composition, communication patterns, and socio-economic support within social networks of transgender women in Lima, Peru.

Introduction: Social networks contribute to normative reinforcement of HIV prevention strategies, knowledge sharing, and social capital, but little research has characterized the social networks of transgender women (TW) in Latin America. We conducted a mixed methods analysis of three network clusters of TW in Lima, Peru, to evaluate network composition, types of support exchanged, and patterns of communication. Methods: We recruited TW residing in or affiliated with three "casas trans" (houses shared among TW) in Lima between April-May 2018. Eligible participants were 18 or older, self-reported HIV-negative, and reported recent intercourse with a cis-male partner. Participants completed demographic questionnaires, social network interviews, and semi-structured interviews to assess egocentric network structures, support exchanged, and communication patterns. Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using Stata v14.1 and Atlas.ti, respectively. Results: Of 20 TW, median age was 26 years and 100% reported involvement in commercial sex work. Respondents identified 161 individuals they interacted with in the past month (alters), of whom 33% were TW and 52% family members. 70% of respondents reported receiving emotional support from family, while 30% received financial support and instrumental support from family. Of the 13 (65%) respondents who nominated someone as a source of HIV prevention support (HPS), the majority (69%) nominated other TW. In a GEE regression analysis adjusted for respondent education and region of birth, being a family member was associated with lower likelihood of providing financial support (aOR 0.21, CI 0.08-0.54), instrumental support (aOR 0.16, CI 0.06-0.39), and HPS (aOR 0.18, CI 0.05-0.64). In qualitative interviews, most respondents identified a cis-female family member as their most trusted and closest network member, but other TW were more often considered sources of day-to-day support, including HPS. Conclusion: TW have diverse social networks where other TW are key sources of knowledge sharing and support, and family members may also represent important and influential components. Within these complex networks, TW may selectively solicit and provide support from different network alters according to specific contexts and needs. HIV prevention messaging could consider incorporating network-based interventions with TW community input and outreach efforts for supportive family members.

A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Self-Reported Needs and Health Service Utilization Among Transgender Women in Lima, Perú.

Purpose: Globally, transgender women (TGW) experience wide-ranging barriers to health and care, with disproportionately high risks of infectious and chronic diseases. Yet, research on transgender populations' access to care in low- and middle-income countries remains limited, focused on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and assesses TGW as a homogenous group. We analyzed morbidity and health service uptake patterns among TGW in Lima, Perú, to understand health outreach and service needs to inform targeting and design of community-level interventions. Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed a convenience sample of 301 TGW in metropolitan Lima during September-October 2020. We report descriptive statistics and bivariable and multivariable regression model results as adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs). Results: Health coverage and access to care were suboptimal. Less education and older age were positively associated with illness and negatively associated with HIV and tuberculosis (TB) testing. In the first study to quantitatively examine health utilization by gender identity subgroup (i.e., woman, trans or transgender, transsexual, "transformista," "travesti," and other) in Perú, TGW who identified as women were more likely to ever test for HIV (aPR = 1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.16-1.91) and use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) (aPR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.15-4.80). Both awareness and interest regarding PrEP were low, as was usage among those who were interested in taking PrEP. Conclusion: Public health efforts should be tailored to meet TGW's diverse needs, expand TB testing, bridge the gap between PrEP interest and use, and increase insurance coverage and access to trans-friendly services for improved health.

Brief Report: Self-Reported Knowledge of HIV Status Among Cisgender Male Sex Partners of Transgender Women in Lima, Peru.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of HIV status is a critical first step in the HIV care cascade. Cisgender male sex partners of transgender women (MSTW) are at a disproportionately high risk of HIV, but little is known about their access to HIV testing or knowledge of HIV status. METHODS: We used cross-sectional data from a respondent-driven sampling study to analyze self-reported HIV status and predictors of knowledge of HIV status among MSTW in Lima, Peru. Mixed-effects models were used to generate crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between knowledge of HIV status and predictors of interest, including sociodemographics and recent sexual behavior. RESULTS: From February to July 2018, 196 eligible MSTW enrolled, of which 90 (46%) reported not knowing their HIV status. Recent casual or 1-time partners were reported by 84% of MSTW and 54% reported purchasing sex. In adjusted analyses, MSTW participants were less likely to know their HIV status if they reported buying sex (aPR 0.43, 95% CI: 0.32 to 0.59) or reported ≥16 recent sex partners compared with ≤5 partners [aPR 0.32, (0.20 to 0.50)]. Those who reported male sex partners were 80% more likely to know their status [aPR 1.80, (1.33 to 2.44)]. CONCLUSIONS: Reported knowledge of HIV status was low among MSTW in Lima, and unknown HIV status was associated with behaviors linked to HIV acquisition. MSTW who reported male partners were more likely to know their status, potentially indicating that HIV testing is more accessible to men who have sex with men.

Decision-Making at the Intersection of Risk and Pleasure: A Qualitative Inquiry with Trans Women Engaged in Sex Work in Lima, Peru.

To inform culturally relevant HIV prevention interventions, we explore the complexity of sex work among Peruvian transgender women. In 2015, we conducted twenty in-depth interviews and demographic surveys with transgender women in Lima, Peru to examine how transgender women enact individual- and community-level resistance strategies within a context of pervasive marginalization. Although 40% self-identified as "sex workers," 70% recently exchanged sex for money. Participants described nuanced risk-benefit analyses surrounding paid sexual encounters. Classification of clients as "risky" or "rewarding" incorporated issues of health, violence, and pleasure. Interviews highlighted context-informed decision-making (rejecting disrespectful clients, asserting condom use with specific partner types) demonstrating that motivations were not limited to HIV prevention or economic renumeration, but considered safety, health, attraction, gender validation, hygiene, and convenience. These findings underscore the complex risk assessments employed by Peruvian trans women. These individual-level decision-making and context-specific health promotion strategies represent critical frameworks for HIV prevention efforts.

Exploring HIV risk behavior and sexual/gender identities among transgender women and their sexual partners in Peru using respondent-driven sampling.

HIV prevalence is high among transgender women, but little is known about cisgender men who have sex with transgender women (MSTW). The objective of this study was to investigate characteristics and behavior of MSTW compared to transgender women and men who have sex with men (MSM) using a modified respondent-driven sampling design. Seed participants completed a survey and invited up to three sex partners. Forward recruitment continued in waves through the referral of sex partners. Cross-sectional data were assessed using mixed effects models. From February to July 2018, 479 participants in Lima, Peru enrolled (n = 199 transgender women, n = 196 MSTW, and n = 45 MSM). MSTW behavior and identity differed significantly from that of transgender women and MSM. MSTW primarily identified as bisexual (69%) or heterosexual (15%) and only 6% reported male partners. Insertive condomless anal intercourse was reported by 61% of MSTW; 46% did not know their HIV serostatus. Compared to MSTW without male partners, those with recent male partners were more likely to sell sex (OR 15.7, 95% CI 4.1-60.5), and report condomless receptive anal intercourse (OR 89.0, 95% CI 19.1-414.8). This evidence suggests that MSTW are a distinct population from MSM, and highlights the critical need to include MSTW in HIV research and interventions.

Self-Identity, Beliefs, and Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex with Transgender Women: Implications for HIV Research and Interventions.

While transgender women have been identified as a global priority population for HIV prevention and treatment, little is known about the cisgender male partners of transgender women, including their sexual behavior and HIV prevalence. Previous research has suggested that these male partners have varied identities and sexual behavior, which make identifying and engaging them in research difficult. This paper describes interviews conducted with fifteen cisgender men who reported recent sexual activity with transgender women in Lima, Peru. The purpose of this research was to explore how these men reported their identities and sexual behavior, to better understand how they would interact with HIV outreach, research, and care. The major themes were sexual orientation and identity; view of transgender partners; social ties to transgender women and other men with transgender women partners; disclosure of relationships; HIV knowledge and risk perception; and attitudes toward interventions. We found that language used to assess sexual orientation was problematic in this population, due to lack of consistency between orientation and reported behavior, and unfamiliarity with terms used to describe sexual orientation. In addition, stigma, lack of knowledge of HIV prevention methods, and fear of disclosure of sexual behavior were identified as barriers that could impact engagement in HIV research, prevention, and care. However, participants reported social relationships with both transgender women and other men who have transgender partners, presenting possible avenues for recruitment into HIV research and healthcare services.

The wisdom of mistrust: qualitative insights from transgender women who participated in PrEP research in Lima, Peru.

INTRODUCTION: Although pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a remarkable biomedical advance to prevent HIV, ongoing research on PrEP contributes to and interacts with a legacy of HIV experimentation on marginalized communities in resource-limited settings. This paper explores the complexity of PrEP research mistrust among Peruvian transgender (trans) women who completed a PrEP adherence intervention and those who refused participation (i.e. declined to enrol, voluntarily withdrew, and/or were lost to follow-up). METHODS: Data were derived from 86 trans women (mean age 29 years) participants in the formative (four focus groups (n = 32), 20 interviews) and the evaluation stages (34 interviews) of a social network-based PrEP intervention for trans women in Lima, Peru. The formative stage took place from May to July 2015, while the evaluative stage took place from April to May 2018. Audio files were transcribed verbatim and analysed via an immersion crystallization approach using Dedoose (v.6.1.18). RESULTS: Three paradoxes of trans women's participation in PrEP science as a "key" population emerged as amplifying mistrust: (1) increases in PrEP research targeting trans women but limited perceived improvements in HIV outcomes; (2) routine dismissal by research physicians and staff of PrEP-related side effects and the social realities of taking PrEP, resulting in questions about who PrEP research is really for and (3) persistent limitations on PrEP access for trans women despite increasing involvement in clinical trials, fostering feelings of being a "guinea pig" to advance PrEP science. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the wisdom inherent in PrEP mistrust as a reflection of trans women's experiences that underscore the broken bonds of trust between communities, researchers and the research enterprise. PrEP mistrust is amplified through perceived paradoxes that suggest to trans women that they are key experimental participants but not target PrEP users outside of research settings. Findings highlight the urgent need to reframe mistrust not as a characteristic of trans women to be addressed through education and outreach, but as a systemic institutional- and industry-level problem replicated, manifested and ultimately to be corrected, through global HIV science.

TransPrEP: Results from the Pilot Study of a Social Network-Based Intervention to Support PrEP Adherence Among Transgender Women in Lima, Peru.

We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial of a social network-based intervention to promote PrEP adherence among transgender women (TW) in Lima, Peru. We enrolled 89 TW from six social networks and cluster-randomized them 1:1 to standard of care (n = 44) or the TransPrEP intervention (n = 45). Core workshops discussed strategies to support PrEP adherence and defined group adherence objectives. Maintenance workshops discussed participants' experiences taking PrEP and collective adherence goals. At 3-month follow-up, we evaluated 40 participants and obtained 29 hair samples for tenofovir level measurements. Though no significant differences were observed, 36.4% (4/11) of participants of TransPrEP participants and 10.0% (1/10) of control participants had tenofovir levels > 0.023 ng/mg, consistent with ≥ 4 doses per week. 81.8% (9/11) of intervention and 40.0% (4/10) of control participants had any detectable tenofovir in their hair. Pilot assessment of our network-based intervention suggested a trend towards improved PrEP adherence, measured objectively, for TW in Peru.

RESUMEN: Realizamos un estudio piloto controlado y aleatorizado de una intervención basada en redes sociales para promover la adherencia al PrEP en mujeres transgénero (MT) de Lima, Perú. Enrolamos a 89 MT de 6 redes sociales y las aleatorizamos por grupos a razón 1:1 al estándar de atención como control (n = 44) o a la intervención TransPrEP (n = 45). En los talleres centrales se discutieron estrategias para respaldar la adherencia al PrEP y se definieron los objetivos de adherencia del grupo. En los talleres de mantenimiento se discutieron las experiencias de los participantes al tomar PrEP y los objetivos de adherencia colectiva. A los 3 meses de seguimiento, evaluamos a 40 participantes y obtuvimos 29 muestras de cabello para medir el nivel de tenofovir. Aunque no se observaron diferencias significativas, el 36.4% (4/11) de los participantes de TransPrEP y el 10.0% (1/10) de los participantes del grupo control tenían niveles de tenofovir> 0.023 ng/mg, congruente con 4 o más dosis por semana. El 81.8% (9/11) del grupo de intervención y el 40.0% (4/10) de los participantes de control tenían tenofovir detectable en el cabello. La evaluación piloto de nuestra intervención basada en redes sugiere una tendencia hacia una mejor adherencia al PrEP, medida objetivamente, para las MT en Perú.

Intimate Partner Violence Against Transgender Women: Prevalence and Correlates in Lima, Peru (2016-2018).

Limited data exists on intimate partner violence (IPV) among transgender women (TW), though global trends suggest IPV is associated with HIV risk in this population. We describe the prevalence of verbal, physical, and/or sexual violence as well as participant- and partner-level correlates of IPV among TW in Lima, Peru. Among 389 respondents, 15.2% reported IPV with one or more of their last three sexual partners: 9.2% verbal, 8.2% physical, and 2.3% sexual violence. Physical and verbal violence were more common with stable partners (aPR 3.46, 95% CI 1.17-10.25, aPR 2.46, 95% CI 1.14-5.28, respectively). Physical violence was associated with condomless receptive anal intercourse (cRAI) (aPR 2.22, 95% CI 1.19-4.13) and partner alcohol use (aPR 4.38, 95% CI 1.56-12.33) while verbal violence correlated with participant inebriation (aPR 4.86, 95% CI 1.63-14.46). Our results link IPV with stable partnerships, alcohol use, and cRAI, suggesting TW in Peru may benefit from multidimensional IPV prevention strategies to foster supportive relationships and reduce HIV transmission.

Integration of Gender-Affirming Primary Care and Peer Navigation With HIV Prevention and Treatment Services to Improve the Health of Transgender Women: Protocol for a Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Public health strategies are urgently needed to improve HIV disparities among transgender women, including holistic intervention approaches that address those health needs prioritized by the community. Hormone therapy is the primary method by which many transgender women medically achieve gender affirmation. Peer navigation has been shown to be effective to engage and retain underserved populations living with HIV in stable primary medical care. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of an integrated innovative HIV service delivery model designed to improve HIV prevention and care by combining gender-affirming primary care and peer navigation with HIV prevention and treatment services. METHODS: A 12-month, nonrandomized, single-arm cohort study was implemented in Lima, Peru, among adult individuals, assigned a male sex at birth, who identified themselves as transgender women, regardless of initiation or completion of medical gender affirmation, and who were unaware of their HIV serostatus or were living with HIV but not engaged in HIV treatment. HIV-negative participants received quarterly HIV testing and were offered to initiate pre-exposure prophylaxis. HIV-positive participants were offered to initiate antiretroviral treatment and underwent quarterly plasma HIV-1 RNA and peripheral CD4+ lymphocyte cell count monitoring. All participants received feminizing hormone therapy and adherence counseling and education on their use. Peer health navigation facilitated retention in care by visiting participants at home, work, or socialization venues, or by contacting them by social media and phone. RESULTS: Patient recruitment started in October 2016 and finished in March 2017. The cohort ended follow-up on March 2018. Data analysis is currently underway. CONCLUSIONS: Innovative and culturally sensitive strategies to improve access to HIV prevention and treatment services for transgender women are vital to curb the burden of HIV epidemic for this key population. Findings of this intervention will inform future policies and research, including evaluation of its efficacy in a randomized controlled trial. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03757117; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03757117. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/14091.

Perceived Barriers and Facilitators to Integrating HIV Prevention and Treatment with Cross-Sex Hormone Therapy for Transgender Women in Lima, Peru.

Transgender women (TW) represent a vulnerable population at increased risk for HIV infection in Peru. A mixed-methods study with 48 TW and 19 healthcare professionals was conducted between January and February 2015 to explore barriers and facilitators to implementing a model of care that integrates HIV services with gender-affirmative medical care (i.e., hormone therapy) in Lima, Peru. Perceived acceptability of the integrated care model was high among TW and healthcare professionals alike. Barriers included stigma, lack of provider training or Peruvian guidelines regarding optimal TW care, and service delivery obstacles (e.g., legal documents, spatial placement of clinics, hours of operation). The hiring of TW staff was identified as a key facilitator for engagement in health care. Working in partnership with local TW and healthcare provider organizations is critical to overcoming existing barriers to successful implementation of an integrated HIV services and gender-affirmative medical care model for this key population in Peru.

Leveraging social capital: multilevel stigma, associated HIV vulnerabilities, and social resilience strategies among transgender women in Lima, Peru.

INTRODUCTION: In Peru, transgender women (TW) experience unique vulnerabilities for HIV infection due to factors that limit access to, and quality of, HIV prevention, treatment and care services. Yet, despite recent advances in understanding factors associated with HIV vulnerability among TW globally, limited scholarship has examined how Peruvian TW cope with this reality and how existing community-level resilience strategies are enacted despite pervasive social and economic exclusion facing the community. Addressing this need, our study applies the understanding of social capital as a social determinant of health and examines its relationship to HIV vulnerabilities to TW in Peru. METHODS: Using qualitative methodology to provide an in-depth portrait, we assessed (1) intersections between social marginalization, social capital and HIV vulnerabilities; and (2) community-level resilience strategies employed by TW to buffer against social marginalization and to link to needed HIV-related services in Peru. Between January and February 2015, 48 TW participated (mean age = 29, range = 18-44) in this study that included focus group discussions and demographic surveys. Analyses were guided by an immersion crystallization approach and all coding was conducted using Dedoose Version 6.1.18. RESULTS: Themes associated with HIV vulnerability included experiences of multilevel stigma and limited occupational opportunities that placed TW at risk for, and limited their engagement with, existing HIV services. Emergent resiliency-based strategies included peer-to-peer and intergenerational knowledge sharing, supportive clinical services (e.g. group-based clinic attendance) and emotional support through social cohesion (i.e. feeling part of a community). CONCLUSION: This study highlights the importance of TW communities as support structures that create and deploy social resiliency-based strategies aimed at deterring and mitigating the impact of social vulnerabilities to discrimination, marginalization and HIV risk for individual TW in Peru. Public health strategies seeking to provide HIV prevention, treatment and care for this population will benefit from recognizing existing social capital within TW communities and incorporating its strengths within HIV prevention interventions. At the intersection of HIV vulnerabilities and collective agency, dimensions of bridging and bonding social capital emerged as resiliency strategies used by TW to access needed healthcare services in Peru. Fostering TW solidarity and peer support are key components to ensure acceptability and sustainability of HIV prevention and promotion efforts.