Factors associated with attitudes towards HIV cure research among transgender women and travestis: a cross-sectional survey in São Paulo, Brazil

Objective Characterising the perceptions of groups most affected by HIV is fundamental in establishing guidelines for biomedical advancement. Although Brazil has successfully fought HIV/AIDS through several measures, transgender women still have a likelihood of HIV infection 55 times higher than the...

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Main Authors: Vivian Iida Avelino-Silva, Robert J Wozniak, Natalia B Cerqueira, Maria Candida S Dantas, Bianca Mahafe, Daniel A C Barros, Edmilson Alves de Medeiros, Ana Carolina Soares de Oliveira, Thiago Sabino, Albert Roggenbuck, Carrie D Johnston, Jez L Marston, Sebastian C Bidegain, Manya Magnus, Esper G Kallas, Douglas F Nixon, Camila S Donini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2020-11-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/11/e040092.full
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author Vivian Iida Avelino-Silva
Robert J Wozniak
Natalia B Cerqueira
Maria Candida S Dantas
Bianca Mahafe
Daniel A C Barros
Edmilson Alves de Medeiros
Ana Carolina Soares de Oliveira
Thiago Sabino
Albert Roggenbuck
Carrie D Johnston
Jez L Marston
Sebastian C Bidegain
Manya Magnus
Esper G Kallas
Douglas F Nixon
Camila S Donini
author_facet Vivian Iida Avelino-Silva
Robert J Wozniak
Natalia B Cerqueira
Maria Candida S Dantas
Bianca Mahafe
Daniel A C Barros
Edmilson Alves de Medeiros
Ana Carolina Soares de Oliveira
Thiago Sabino
Albert Roggenbuck
Carrie D Johnston
Jez L Marston
Sebastian C Bidegain
Manya Magnus
Esper G Kallas
Douglas F Nixon
Camila S Donini
author_sort Vivian Iida Avelino-Silva
collection DOAJ
description Objective Characterising the perceptions of groups most affected by HIV is fundamental in establishing guidelines for biomedical advancement. Although Brazil has successfully fought HIV/AIDS through several measures, transgender women still have a likelihood of HIV infection 55 times higher than the general population. This study aimed to better understand the perception and awareness of HIV cure research among the trans-identifying population in São Paulo, Brazil, and to determine factors that motivate or discourage participation in HIV cure studies.Setting This cross-sectional study analysed data collected from a questionnaire administered to 118 transgender women and travestis at 5 sites within the city of São Paulo. It uses quantitative methodology to describe the perspectives of transgender and travesti people in relation to HIV cure research and the context in which such perspectives are produced.Results Of 118 participants, most participants (73%) had some knowledge of HIV cure research and were most willing to participate in online surveys (52%), interviews (52%), focus groups (52%) and studies involving blood draws (57%). Those with a higher education or employment status were more likely to agree that someone had been cured of HIV, people living with HIV are discriminated against, and more information about HIV cure research is needed before the community embraces it. Only 55% of participants completely trusted their physician. The biggest motivational factors included gaining additional knowledge about HIV infection (77%) and the potential for a longer, healthier life for all (73%).Conclusions As a primary analysis of HIV cure attitudes among the transgender and travesti population as well as the social context in which they are formed, this study identifies opportunities to strengthen the dialogue and develop more educational collaborations between scientific investigators, community educators and the trans-identifying population to ensure that HIV cure research is inclusive of diverse perspectives.
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spelling doaj-art-f1b573a9559d4d9d99e7cbd623d753f92024-11-27T11:40:10ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552020-11-01101110.1136/bmjopen-2020-040092Factors associated with attitudes towards HIV cure research among transgender women and travestis: a cross-sectional survey in São Paulo, BrazilVivian Iida Avelino-Silva0Robert J Wozniak1Natalia B Cerqueira2Maria Candida S Dantas3Bianca Mahafe4Daniel A C Barros5Edmilson Alves de Medeiros6Ana Carolina Soares de Oliveira7Thiago Sabino8Albert Roggenbuck9Carrie D Johnston10Jez L Marston11Sebastian C Bidegain12Manya Magnus13Esper G Kallas14Douglas F Nixon15Camila S Donini16Department of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculdade de Medicina FMUSP, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USADepartment of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilDepartment of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USADivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USADivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USADepartment of Epidemiology, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USADepartment of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USADepartment of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilObjective Characterising the perceptions of groups most affected by HIV is fundamental in establishing guidelines for biomedical advancement. Although Brazil has successfully fought HIV/AIDS through several measures, transgender women still have a likelihood of HIV infection 55 times higher than the general population. This study aimed to better understand the perception and awareness of HIV cure research among the trans-identifying population in São Paulo, Brazil, and to determine factors that motivate or discourage participation in HIV cure studies.Setting This cross-sectional study analysed data collected from a questionnaire administered to 118 transgender women and travestis at 5 sites within the city of São Paulo. It uses quantitative methodology to describe the perspectives of transgender and travesti people in relation to HIV cure research and the context in which such perspectives are produced.Results Of 118 participants, most participants (73%) had some knowledge of HIV cure research and were most willing to participate in online surveys (52%), interviews (52%), focus groups (52%) and studies involving blood draws (57%). Those with a higher education or employment status were more likely to agree that someone had been cured of HIV, people living with HIV are discriminated against, and more information about HIV cure research is needed before the community embraces it. Only 55% of participants completely trusted their physician. The biggest motivational factors included gaining additional knowledge about HIV infection (77%) and the potential for a longer, healthier life for all (73%).Conclusions As a primary analysis of HIV cure attitudes among the transgender and travesti population as well as the social context in which they are formed, this study identifies opportunities to strengthen the dialogue and develop more educational collaborations between scientific investigators, community educators and the trans-identifying population to ensure that HIV cure research is inclusive of diverse perspectives.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/11/e040092.full
spellingShingle Vivian Iida Avelino-Silva
Robert J Wozniak
Natalia B Cerqueira
Maria Candida S Dantas
Bianca Mahafe
Daniel A C Barros
Edmilson Alves de Medeiros
Ana Carolina Soares de Oliveira
Thiago Sabino
Albert Roggenbuck
Carrie D Johnston
Jez L Marston
Sebastian C Bidegain
Manya Magnus
Esper G Kallas
Douglas F Nixon
Camila S Donini
Factors associated with attitudes towards HIV cure research among transgender women and travestis: a cross-sectional survey in São Paulo, Brazil
BMJ Open
title Factors associated with attitudes towards HIV cure research among transgender women and travestis: a cross-sectional survey in São Paulo, Brazil
title_full Factors associated with attitudes towards HIV cure research among transgender women and travestis: a cross-sectional survey in São Paulo, Brazil
title_fullStr Factors associated with attitudes towards HIV cure research among transgender women and travestis: a cross-sectional survey in São Paulo, Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Factors associated with attitudes towards HIV cure research among transgender women and travestis: a cross-sectional survey in São Paulo, Brazil
title_short Factors associated with attitudes towards HIV cure research among transgender women and travestis: a cross-sectional survey in São Paulo, Brazil
title_sort factors associated with attitudes towards hiv cure research among transgender women and travestis a cross sectional survey in sao paulo brazil
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/10/11/e040092.full
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