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

描述(申请人提供)：这项研究试图解决两个紧迫的科学需求：1)改进抽样和招募难以接触到的少数群体纳入研究的方法；2)填补我们对女性到男性变性人(变性人)面临的健康问题的了解空白。少数群体不适当地遭受许多疾病和精神健康问题的折磨；性少数群体承受着艾滋病毒流行病的特别沉重的负担。我们看到的警告信号表明，变性人可能是被忽视的少数群体，感染艾滋病毒的风险很高，有记录的艾滋病和性传播疾病病例，性伴侣是男同性恋和男女变性人(变性人)，避孕套使用率很低。变性人似乎也面临歧视，吸毒和酗酒、抑郁和自杀的比例很高。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的战略，为艾滋病毒流行率和健康风险调查抽样和招募跨性别者，首先到发现跨性别者的公共场所进行外联，然后转介他们的同龄人。虽然这项研究的重点是变性人，但我们的研究将发明并验证一种新的抽样方法，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.