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ABSTRACT Objective Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) disproportionately affect transgender women and travestis (TGW), who often lack access to healthcare due to stigma and discrimination. We describe the approach and methodology of a study investigating the prevalence of syphilis, HIV, hepatitis A, B, and C, Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), and human papillomavirus (HPV) among TGW, as well as their knowledge and perceptions regarding syphilis, to better inform policies to curb STIs among this vulnerable population. Methods: TransOdara was a multicentric, cross-sectional study conducted among TGW in five capital cities from major Brazilian regions between December 2019 and July 2021. Self-identified transgender women and travestis aged >18 years were recruited using respondent-driven sampling after a qualitative formative phase, completed an interviewer-led questionnaire, were offered a physical examination, and were also asked to provide samples from multiple sites to detect various STIs, starting vaccination and treatment when indicated. Results: A total of 1,317 participants were recruited from the five study locations: Campo Grande (n=181, 13.7%), Manaus (n=340, 25.8%), Porto Alegre (n=192, 14.6%), Salvador (n=201, 15.3%), and São Paulo (n=403, 30.6%). The recruitment period varied at each study location due to logistic constraints imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: Despite the enormous challenges posed by the co-occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic and field work targeting a vulnerable, elusive, and scattered population, the TransOdara project has been effectively implemented. Caveats did not preclude 1,300 TGW from being interviewed and tested, amid a significant epidemic that disrupted health services and research projects in Brazil and worldwide.
RESUMO Objetivo As infecções sexualmente transmissíveis (IST) afetam desproporcionalmente as mulheres trans e travestis (MTT), que muitas vezes não têm acesso a cuidados de saúde devido ao estigma e à discriminação. Descrevemos a abordagem e a metodologia de um estudo que investigou a prevalência de sífilis, HIV, hepatite A, B e C, Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) e papilomavírus humano (HPV) entre as MTT, bem como seu conhecimento e percepção sobre a sífilis, para melhor as políticas para redução de IST nessa população vulnerável. Métodos: TransOdara foi um estudo multicêntrico, transversal, realizado em cinco capitais das principais regiões brasileiras entre dezembro de 2019 e julho de 2021. Mulheres autoidentificadas como mulheres trans ou travestis, com idade >18 anos, foram recrutadas usando respondent-driven sampling, após uma fase de pesquisa formativa. Responderam a um questionário conduzido por entrevistadoras. Foi oferecida consulta médica, com exame físico, e solicitou-se que fornecessem amostras de vários locais para detectar as IST citadas. Quando indicado e consentido, foram iniciadas a vacinação e o tratamento. Resultados: Foram recrutadas 1.317 participantes nos cinco locais de estudo: Campo Grande (n=181, 13,7%), Manaus (n=340, 25,8%), Porto Alegre (n=192, 14,6%), Salvador (n= =201, 15,3%) e São Paulo (n=403, 30,6%). O período de recrutamento variou em cada local em razão de restrições logísticas impostas pela pandemia de COVID-19. Conclusão: Apesar dos enormes desafios colocados pela ocorrência simultânea da pandemia da COVID-19 e do trabalho de campo dirigido a uma população vulnerabilizada e dispersa, o projeto TransOdara foi eficazmente implementado. As adversidades não impediram que mais de 1.300 mulheres trans e travestis tenham sido entrevistadas e testadas em meio a uma epidemia de tal magnitude que perturbou os serviços de saúde e os projetos de pesquisa no Brasil e no mundo.
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ABSTRACT Objective: To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with hepatitis A, B, and C in transgender women and travestis's networks, in 5 regions of Brazil. Methods: This cross-sectional study includedtransgender women and travestis in five Brazilian capitals (Campo Grande, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Salvador, and São Paulo), between December/2019 and July/2021. All samples were subjected to detection of serological markers of hepatitis virus A (HAV), B (HBV), and C (HCV) infections through rapid tests and chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassays. Positive samples in the screening tests were submitted to detect HBV DNA and HCV-RNA by real-time PCR and genotyped by Sanger sequencing. Results: Analysis of 1,317 samples showed network prevalence rates of 69.1%, 25.1%, and 1.5% for HAV, HBV, and HCV exposure, respectively. A high susceptibility rate to HBV infection (35.7%) and low prevalence of vaccine response markers (40%) were also observed. Age greater than 26 years, self-declared black/brown skin color, having only primary education, history of incarceration, and use of a condom in the last sexual intercourse with a casual partner were associated with total anti-HAV. Exposure to HBV was associated with age greater than 26 years, self-declared black/brown, history of being a sex worker, and incarceration. Age > 37 years, history of sexual abuse, and frequent alcohol consumption were associated with hepatitis C infection. Conclusion: The highest prevalence of HAV in this population was found in the North and Northeast regions, and the prevalence found was higher than that in the general population, suggesting greater vulnerability. The prevalence of HCV infection in our study was similar to that observed in the general population.
RESUMO Objetivo: Estimar as prevalências e fatores associados com as hepatites A, B e C em mulheres trans e travestis em cinco regiões do Brasil. Métodos: Estudo transversal com mulheres trans e travestis em cinco capitais brasileiras (Campo Grande, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Salvador e São Paulo), entre dezembro/2019 e julho/2021. As amostras foram submetidas à detecção de marcadores das infecções pelos vírus das hepatites A (HAV), B (HBV) e C (HCV), utilizando-se testes rápidos e quimioluminescência. Amostras positivas foram submetidas à detecção de HBV-DNA e HCV-RNA por PCR em tempo real e genotipadas por sequenciamento de Sanger. Resultados: As análises de 1.317 amostras indicaram taxas de prevalências nas mulheres trans e travestis recrutadas de 69,1%, 24,4% e 1,5% para exposição ao HAV, HBV e HCV, respectivamente. Elevada taxa de suscetibilidade ao HBV (35,7%) e baixa prevalência do marcador vacinal (40,0%) foram observadas. Mostraram-se associadas à presença de anti-HAV: idade maior que 26 anos, autodeclarar-se preta-parda, ter apenas educação básica, história de encarceramento e uso de preservativo na última relação sexual com parceiro casual. Quanto à exposição ao HBV, foi associada a idade maior que 26 anos, cor da pele preto-parda, ter sido profissional do sexo e história de encarceramento. Idade maior de 37 anos, história de abuso sexual e consumo frequente de álcool foram associadas ao HCV. Conclusão: As maiores prevalências de HAV nessa população encontram-se nas regiões Norte e Nordeste. Com relação ao HBV, a prevalência encontrada foi superior à encontrada na população geral, sugerindo maior vulnerabilidade. A prevalência do HCV foi semelhante à encontrada na população geral.
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Abstract The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of external genital lesions (EGLs), specifically histologically confirmed condyloma (genital warts) and Penile Intraepithelial Neoplasia (PeIN), and genital HPV infection progression to EGLs among healthy men aged 18-73 residing in Brazil. Subjects included 1118 men enrolled in the HPV Infection in Men (HIM) study between July 2005 and June 2009. At each visit, EGLs were biopsied and subjected to pathological evaluation. HPV status in genital swabs and biopsies was determined by Linear Array and INNO-LiPA, respectively. Age-specific EGLs incidence and the proportion and median time to EGL development were estimated. Kaplan-Meier cumulative incidence rates at 6, 12, and 24 months were determined. During follow-up, 73 men developed an incident EGL. Men could develop multiple EGLs and there were 36 men with condyloma, 27 men with lesions suggestive of condyloma, six men with PeIN, and 20 men with non-HPV lesions. HPV-positive men who developed EGLs were younger (p = 0.002) than men that did not develop lesions. Among the 815 men with HPV infection, 4% progressed to EGL with the same HPV detected in the swab. During follow up, 15.7% of genital HPV-6 and HPV-11 infections progressed to condyloma (median progression time of nine months for HPV-6 versus 6.8 months for HPV-11). Approximately 1% of HPV-16 infections progressed to PeIN with a median progression time of 25 months. HPV types covered by the 4-valent HPV vaccine were detected in 82.3% and 83.3% of condyloma and PeIN, respectively. The high burden of HPV and high frequency of progression to disease underscores the need to offer HPV prophylactic vaccination to men to reduce the overall burden of infection and diseases caused by HPV.