Probability-based survey of HIV risk among transmen using a novel sampling method

描述（由申请人提供）：本研究旨在解决两个紧迫的科学需求：1）改进对难以接触到的少数群体进行抽样和招募的方法，以纳入研究；2）填补我们对女性跨性别者（跨性别者）所面临的健康问题的了解空白。少数民族人口过度患有多种疾病和精神健康问题；性少数群体在艾滋病毒流行中承受着特别沉重的负担。我们看到警告信号，表明跨性别者可能是艾滋病毒高危人群中被忽视的少数群体，有艾滋病和性病病例记录，性伴侣是男同性恋者和男变女跨性别者（跨性别女性），并且安全套使用率较低。变性人似乎也面临歧视，吸毒、酗酒、抑郁和自杀率很高。然而，缺乏可靠的数据来指导预防和护理计划。这项探索性研究将开发和测试一种新策略，以抽样和招募跨性别者来调查艾滋病毒流行率和健康风险，首先向发现跨性别者的公共场所进行宣传，然后转介他们的同龄人。尽管这项研究的重点是跨性别者，但我们的研究将发明并验证一种新的采样方法，适用于全球受艾滋病毒和其他健康问题影响的不同人群。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This study seeks to address two pressing scientific needs: 1) to improve ways to sample and recruit hard-to-reach minority populations for inclusion in research and 2) to fill a gap in our knowledge of the health problems faced by female-to-male transgender persons (transmen). Minority populations unduly suffer from many diseases and mental health conditions; sexual minorities bear a particularly heavy burden of the HIV epidemic. We are seeing warning signs that transmen may be an overlooked minority population at high risk for HIV, with documented AIDS and STD cases, sex partners who are gay men and male-to-female transgender persons (transwomen) and low condom use. Transmen also appear to face discrimination and have high levels of drug and alcohol use, depression and suicide. However, reliable data are lacking to guide prevention and care programs. This exploratory study will develop and test a novel strategy to sample and recruit transmen for a survey of HIV prevalence and health risks, beginning with outreach to public places where transmen are found followed by referral of their peers. Although this study focuses on transmen, our research will invent and validate a new sampling method applicable to diverse populations affected by HIV and other health issues worldwide.