Determinants of Unprotected Receptive Anal Intercourse Among Trans Feminine Individuals in Beirut, Lebanon

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Investigator: Justine McGowan, MS
Sponsor: Global Health Sciences Education

Location(s): Lebanon

Description

There is growing evidence that HIV epidemics may be emerging in the Middle East and North Africa among “key populations”. Data on HIV risk and prevalence in Lebanon has not included transfeminine individuals as a population subgroup, despite evidence from other regions indicating that prevalence rates are among the highest of all risk groups. In Lebanon, mental health issues, experiences of trauma and discrimination, engagement in transactional sex, low levels of gender affirmation, and barriers to health care access may contribute to transfeminine individuals’ high rates of unprotected sex and high risk for contracting HIV.

Mentors: Nancy Hills, PhD & Rachel Kaplan, PhD, MPH