Title | Syndemic theory and HIV-related risk among young transgender women: the role of multiple, co-occurring health problems and social marginalization. |
Publication Type | Publication |
Year of Publication | 2012 |
Authors | Brennan J, Kuhns LM, Johnson AK, Belzer M, Wilson EC, Garofalo R |
Corporate Authors | Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS Interventions |
Journal | Am J Public Health |
Volume | 102 |
Issue | 9 |
Pagination | 1751-7 |
Date Published | 2012 Sep |
ISSN | 1541-0048 |
Keywords | Adolescent, Adult, Chicago, Crime Victims, Data Collection, Domestic Violence, Female, HIV, HIV Infections, Humans, Los Angeles, Psychology, Risk Factors, Risk-Taking, Self Concept, Sexual Behavior, Substance-Related Disorders, Transsexualism, Young Adult |
Abstract | <p><b>OBJECTIVES: </b>We assessed whether multiple psychosocial factors are additive in their relationship to sexual risk behavior and self-reported HIV status (i.e., can be characterized as a syndemic) among young transgender women and the relationship of indicators of social marginalization to psychosocial factors.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>Participants (n = 151) were aged 15 to 24 years and lived in Chicago or Los Angeles. We collected data on psychosocial factors (low self-esteem, polysubstance use, victimization related to transgender identity, and intimate partner violence) and social marginalization indicators (history of commercial sex work, homelessness, and incarceration) through an interviewer-administered survey.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>Syndemic factors were positively and additively related to sexual risk behavior and self-reported HIV infection. In addition, our syndemic index was significantly related to 2 indicators of social marginalization: a history of sex work and previous incarceration.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS: </b>These findings provide evidence for a syndemic of co-occurring psychosocial and health problems in young transgender women, taking place in a context of social marginalization.</p> |
DOI | 10.2105/AJPH.2011.300433 |
Alternate Journal | Am J Public Health |
PubMed ID | 22873480 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC3416048 |
Grant List | U01 HD052172-05 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States U01 HD040533 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States U01 HD052172-01 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States U01 HD052172-04 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States U01 HD052172-02 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States U01 HD052172 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States U01 HD040474 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States U01 HD052172-03 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States |