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HIV prevalence, risk behaviour, and treatment and prevention cascade outcomes among cisgender men, transgender women, and transgender men who sell sex in Zimbabwe: a cross-sectional analysis of programmatic data

Kloek, Mariëlle, Chabata, Sungai, van Noord, Laura, Machingura, Fortunate, Makandwa, Rumbidzo, Dirawo, Jeffrey, Takaruza, Albert, Matambanadzo, Primrose, de Vlas, Sake, Hontelez, Jan and Cowan, Frances ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3087-4422 (2023) 'HIV prevalence, risk behaviour, and treatment and prevention cascade outcomes among cisgender men, transgender women, and transgender men who sell sex in Zimbabwe: a cross-sectional analysis of programmatic data'. Lancet HIV, Vol 10, Issue 7, e453-e460.

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Abstract

Background:
There is limited evidence about the HIV vulnerabilities and service engagements among people who sell sex in sub-Saharan Africa identifying as cisgender men, transgender women or transgender men. We present unique data describing the sexual risk behaviour, HIV prevalence, and access to HIV services among cisgender men (MWSS), transgender women (TGWWSS), and transgender men (TGMWSS) who sell sex in Zimbabwe.

Methods:
From July 2018, CeSHHAR expanded its community and clinical services to include SW in their diversity more broadly. All SW reached by the programme have routine data collected, including routine HIV testing, and were referred using a network of peer educators. Sexual risk behaviour, HIV prevalence, and HIV services uptake over the period July 2018 to June 2020 were analysed through descriptive statistics by gender group.

Findings:
In total, 423 MWSS, 343 TGWWSS, and 237 TGMWSS were included. Age standardized HIV prevalence estimates were 26·2% [95% CI: 22·0; 30·7] for MWSS, 39·4% [95% CI: 34·1; 44·9] for TGWWSS, and 38·4% [95% CI: 32·1; 45·0] for TGMWSS. Among those living with HIV, respectively 66·0% [95% CI: 55·7; 75·3], 74·8% [95% CI: 65·8; 82·4], and 70·2% [95% CI: 59·3; 79·7] knew their status, and
respectively 15·5% [95% CI: 8·9; 24·2], 15·7% [95% CI: 9·5; 23·6] and 11·9% [95% CI: 5·9; 20·8] were on ART. Self-reported condom use was consistently low across gender groups, ranging from 28% to 55%.

Interpretation:
These unique data demonstrate that people who sell sex identifying as cisgender men, transgender women or transgender men in sub-Saharan Africa face high HIV prevalence and risk, coinciding with alarmingly low access to HIV prevention, testing and treatment services. There is an urgent need for people-centred HIV interventions for these high-risk groups and for more inclusive HIV policies and research to ensure we truly attain universal access for all.

Item Type: Article
Subjects: WC Communicable Diseases > Sexually Transmitted Diseases > WC 144 Prevention
WC Communicable Diseases > Virus Diseases > Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. HIV Infections > WC 503 Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. HIV infections
WC Communicable Diseases > Virus Diseases > Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. HIV Infections > WC 503.6 Prevention and control
Faculty: Department: Clinical Sciences & International Health > International Public Health Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI): https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3018(23)00088-7
Depositing User: Rachel Dominguez
Date Deposited: 03 Jul 2023 11:58
Last Modified: 14 Dec 2023 04:12
URI: https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/22372

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