scholarly journals Sexual Behaviors and Vulnerability to Sexually Transmitted Infections in Transgender Women

Author(s):  
Azar Nematollahi ◽  
Safoora Gharibzadeh ◽  
Maryam Damghanian ◽  
Saeid Gholamzadeh ◽  
Farnaz Farnam

Abstract Background: It is essential to pay special attention to sexual health of transgender women. The aim of this study was to assess sexual behaviors and vulnerability of transgender women to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including AIDS.Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted using convenient sampling from August 2019 to march 2020 in Iran. 127 transgender women participated in this study .A researcher-made questionnaire was applied for evaluating sexual behaviors, STIs and HIV. Results: The mean age of participants and their age of sexual debut were 27.6 and 16.9, respectively. 92.1% of participants were single with experience of sex and 59.3% had one sex partner in the last 2 years. 96.9% of the participants were heterosexual with 67.2% reporting experiencing orgasm in at least 50% of their sexual intercourse. However, 42.5% reported dyspareunia and the same percentage reported low or very low sexual satisfaction. The majority of participants had little knowledge of the symptoms (33.9%) and complications (44.1%) of STIs. Although 87.4% and 72.4% of participants had never been tested for a STI and HIV, 1.6% were infected with HIV and 18.1% with STIs. Conclusion: Sexual interests of Iranian transgender women were aligned with those of cisgender women. In terms of sexual function, despite the higher rate of orgasm in transgender women, sexual satisfaction was lower in them compared to that of cisgender women due to dyspareunia and body dissatisfaction, which highlights the need to investigate for more effective surgeries and specific sexual counseling interventions in this group.

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 236-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rivka S Rich ◽  
Alex Leventhal ◽  
Rivka Sheffer ◽  
Zohar Mor

Men who have sex with men (MSM) and purchase sex (MPS) are a sub-group potentially at high risk for acquiring and transmitting sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This is a hard-to-reach population resulting in a scarcity of studies covering the issue. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the association between purchasing sex and high-risk behaviors related to HIV/STI transmission and appraise the STI prevalence among MSM. All MSM who attended the STI clinic in Tel Aviv between 2003 and 2010 were included. Demographics, behavioral, clinical, and laboratory data were compared between MPS and non-MPS to identify high-risk sexual behaviors and STI prevalence associated with purchasing sex. Of the first visits of 2694 MSM who attended the STI clinic during the study period, 151 (5.6%) paid for sex. MPS were more commonly older and married than non-MPS. MPS were more likely to engage in behaviors associated with high risk for HIV/STI transmission, including infrequent condom use during anal sex, substance use during sex, and selling sex themselves. MPS had a higher STI prevalence than non-MPS, although this was not statistically significant ( p = 0.05). These findings highlight the need to establish culturally tailored interventions for MPS addressing the potential risks associated with purchasing sex.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 155798832110268
Author(s):  
Jennifer P. Jain ◽  
Akua O. Gyamerah ◽  
Glenda N. Baguso ◽  
Carol Dawson-Rose ◽  
Janet Ikeda ◽  
...  

The risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among men who have sex with men (MSM) is driven by various socio-behavioral factors. From 2015-2017, 247 MSM ≥ 18 years-old who reported alcohol use in the past year, were recruited into a cross-sectional study in San Francisco. Participants completed a survey assessing socio-demographics, substance use and treatment, sexual behaviors, HIV status and self-reported STI diagnosis in the past 6 months. Multivariable logistic regression models stratified by HIV status were used to identify the correlates of STIs. Of 247 MSM, the prevalence of bacterial STIs were: gonorrhea (12.9%), chlamydia (9.3%) and syphilis (6.0%). Among 177 MSM living without HIV, factors significantly associated with recent STI diagnosis were: current pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use (aOR = 3.53, 95% CI: 1.42–8.75, p ≤ .01), popper use during sex in the past 6 months (aOR = 3.16, 95% CI = 1.34–7.47, p ≤ .01) and a history of alcohol treatment (aOR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.04–0.68, p = .01). Also, in a sensitivity analysis (removing PrEP), any receptive condomless anal sex was independently associated with recent STI diagnosis (aOR = 2.86, 95% CI = 1.15–7.08, p = .02). Among 70 MSM living with HIV, factors significantly associated with recent STI diagnosis were: White race/ethnicity (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 7.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.48–36.62, p = .01), younger age (aOR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.84–0.97, p < .01) and a higher number of male sexual partners in the past 6 months (aOR = 1.03, 95% CI = 1.00–1.06, p = .02). Sexual health interventions that address the unique needs of MSM living with and without HIV who use alcohol in San Francisco are needed to reduce STI acquisition and transmission.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e56710918354
Author(s):  
Débora Junqueira Andrade ◽  
Bianca Fonseca da Rocha ◽  
Maycon Klerystton Bezerra Tavares ◽  
José Bruno Nunes Ferreira Silva

The challenges posed by the implementation of sex education within a social context, by teachers or parents, are impasses that compromise adolescents’ and young adults’ sexual health, resulting in sexual risk behaviors. This study evaluated the forms of sex education, knowledge about sexually transmitted infections, and the vulnerability of university students within the Brazilian Legal Amazon. A total of 149 healthcare students provided their sociodemographic data and how they obtain information about safe sex practices. The data collected were evaluated using the Sexually Transmitted Disease Knowledge Questionnaire (STD-KQ) questionnaire. Bivariate analyses and Pearson correlation were performed. The sources of sex education were primarily accessed by students approaching course completion and female students nearing graduation, through teachers, specialized books, media, and friends. In general, men were found to have a higher degree of knowledge about STIs, while women reported feeling less protected sexually. Time spent at the university and the knowledge men possess were not found to reduce risky behavior. This cross-sectional study confirms that interventions to combat misinformation in the face of risky sexual behaviors and their consequences should be prioritized and should consider the gender of individuals and all the differences in the perceptions and actions of both male and female healthcare students.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Tu ◽  
Yu-Ye Li ◽  
Yi-Qun Kuang ◽  
Rong-Hui Xie ◽  
Xing-Qi Dong ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Yunnan has the highest rates of HIV in the country. Other treatable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are associated with accelerated HIV transmission and poor ART outcomes, but are only diagnosed by syndromic algorithms. Methods We recruited 406 HIV-positive participants for a cross-sectional study (204 ART-naive and 202 ART). Blood samples and first-voided urine samples were collected. Real-time polymerase chain reaction methods were used for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Mycoplasma genitalium (MG). Syphilis and HSV-2 tests were also performed. Results Among 406 participants, the overall prevalence of STI was 47.0% and 45.1% in ART-naive individuals and 49.0% in ART individuals, respectively. Testing frequency was 11.6% (11.8% vs 11.4%), 33.2% (29.4% vs 37.1%), 3.2% (3.4% vs 3.0%), 2.0% (3.4% vs 0.5%) and 4.7% (6.4% vs 3.0%) for active syphilis, HSV-2, chlamydia, gonorrhoeae and genitalium. Percentage of multiple infections in both groups was 10.8% (22/204) in ART-naive participants and 9.9% (20/202) in ART participants. Females, age between 18 to 35 years, ever injected drugs, homosexual or bisexual, HIV/HBV coinfection, and not receiving ART were identified as risk factors. Self-reported asymptom was not eliminating of having a laboratory-diagnosed STI. Conclusions STI prevalence was 47.0% (45.1% vs 49.0%), HSV-2, syphilis and MG were the most common STIs in HIV-infected individuals. We found high prevalence (6.4%) of Mycoplasma genitalium in ART-naive individuals. ART can reduce the diversity of STI-HIV coinfection but not the prevalence. HIV-positive individuals tend to neglect or maybe hide their genital tract discomfort, thus we suggest strengthening STI joint screening and treatment services among HIV-infected individuals whether they describe genital tract discomfort or not.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Komal Chacowry Pala ◽  
Stéphanie Baggio ◽  
Nguyen Toan Tran ◽  
François Girardin ◽  
Hans Wolff ◽  
...  

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharine E Sadler ◽  
Nicola Low ◽  
Catherine H Mercer ◽  
Lorna J Sutcliffe ◽  
M Amir Islam ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document