Ye Zhang1,2, John Best3, Weiming Tang1,2,4, Lai Sze Tso2, Fengying Liu1, Shujie Huang1, Heping Zheng1, Bin Yang1, Chongyi Wei5, Joseph D Tucker2,3. 1. Guangdong Provincial Centres for Skin Diseases and STI Control, Guangzhou, China. 2. Institute of Global Health and Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina Project-China, Guangzhou, China. 3. School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA. 4. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. 5. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics & Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Transgender individuals are at increased risk for HIV infection around the world, yet few studies have focused on transgender individuals in China. We conducted an online cross-sectional survey of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender individuals to examine sociodemographics, intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual behaviours in China. METHODS: We recruited participants (born biologically male, ≥16 years old, ever engaged in anal sex with men and agreed to provide cell phone number) from three web platforms in 2014. Data on sociodemographics, IPV and sexual behaviours were collected. Logistic regressions were performed to compare the differences between transgender individuals and non-transgender MSM. RESULTS: Overall, 1424 eligible participants completed our online survey. Of these participants, 61 (4.3%) were transgender individuals, including 28 (2.0%) identifying as women and 33 (2.3%) identifying as transgender. Compared with MSM, transgender individuals were more likely to have experienced IPV and sexual violence (economic abuse, physical abuse, threat to harm loved ones, threat to 'out', forced sex). In addition, transgender individuals were more likely to have engaged in commercial sex (21.3% vs 5.1%, aOR 4.80, 95% CI 2.43 to 9.51) and group sex (26.2% vs 9.2%, aOR 3.47, 95% CI 1.58 to 6.48) in the last 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is consistent with the emerging literature demonstrating increased sexual risk behaviours and high levels of IPV among transgender individuals. Future research should further investigate transgender individuals' experiences of IPV and explore ways to promote disclosure of gender identity to healthcare providers. Furthermore, transgender research in China should be expanded independently of MSM research. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.
OBJECTIVE: Transgender individuals are at increased risk for HIV infection around the world, yet few studies have focused on transgender individuals in China. We conducted an online cross-sectional survey of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender individuals to examine sociodemographics, intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual behaviours in China. METHODS: We recruited participants (born biologically male, ≥16 years old, ever engaged in anal sex with men and agreed to provide cell phone number) from three web platforms in 2014. Data on sociodemographics, IPV and sexual behaviours were collected. Logistic regressions were performed to compare the differences between transgender individuals and non-transgender MSM. RESULTS: Overall, 1424 eligible participants completed our online survey. Of these participants, 61 (4.3%) were transgender individuals, including 28 (2.0%) identifying as women and 33 (2.3%) identifying as transgender. Compared with MSM, transgender individuals were more likely to have experienced IPV and sexual violence (economic abuse, physical abuse, threat to harm loved ones, threat to 'out', forced sex). In addition, transgender individuals were more likely to have engaged in commercial sex (21.3% vs 5.1%, aOR 4.80, 95% CI 2.43 to 9.51) and group sex (26.2% vs 9.2%, aOR 3.47, 95% CI 1.58 to 6.48) in the last 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Our study is consistent with the emerging literature demonstrating increased sexual risk behaviours and high levels of IPV among transgender individuals. Future research should further investigate transgender individuals' experiences of IPV and explore ways to promote disclosure of gender identity to healthcare providers. Furthermore, transgender research in China should be expanded independently of MSM research. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.
Authors: John Best; Weiming Tang; Ye Zhang; Larry Han; Fengying Liu; Shujie Huang; Bin Yang; Chongyi Wei; Joseph D Tucker Journal: Sex Transm Dis Date: 2015-05 Impact factor: 2.830
Authors: Kristin L Dunkle; Frank Y Wong; Eric J Nehl; Lavinia Lin; Na He; Jennifer Huang; Tony Zheng Journal: Sex Transm Dis Date: 2013-05 Impact factor: 2.830
Authors: Cedric H Bien; Kathryn E Muessig; Ramon Lee; Elaine J Lo; Li Gang Yang; Bin Yang; Rosanna W Peeling; Joseph D Tucker Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-04-13 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Joseph D Tucker; Kathryn E Muessig; Rosa Cui; Cedric H Bien; Elaine J Lo; Ramon Lee; Kaidi Wang; Larry Han; Feng-Ying Liu; Li-Gang Yang; Bin Yang; Heidi Larson; Rosanna W Peeling Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2014-11-25 Impact factor: 3.090
Authors: Sarah M Peitzmeier; Mannat Malik; Shanna K Kattari; Elliot Marrow; Rob Stephenson; Madina Agénor; Sari L Reisner Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2020-07-16 Impact factor: 11.561