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Vulnerability to COVID-19-related Harms among Transgender Women with and Without HIV Infection in the Eastern and Southern U.S.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Poteat, TC; Reisner, SL; Miller, M; Wirtz, AL
Published in: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
December 1, 2020

Background:COVID-19 is a new pandemic, and its impact by HIV status is unknown. National reporting does not include gender identity; therefore, data are absent on the impact of COVID-19 on transgender people, including those with HIV. Baseline data from the American Cohort to Study HIV Acquisition Among Transgender Women in High Risk Areas (LITE) Study provide an opportunity to examine pre-COVID factors that may increase vulnerability to COVID-19-related harms among transgender women.Setting:Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Miami, New York City, Washington, DC.Methods:Baseline data from LITE were analyzed for demographic, psychosocial, and material factors that may affect vulnerability to COVID-related harms.Results:The 1020 participants had high rates of poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, homelessness, and sex work. Transgender women with HIV (n = 273) were older, more likely to be Black, had lower educational attainment, and were more likely to experience material hardship. Mental and behavioral health symptoms were common and did not differ by HIV status. Barriers to health care included being mistreated, provider discomfort serving transgender women, and past negative experiences; as well as material hardships, such as cost and transportation. However, most reported access to material and social support-demonstrating resilience.Conclusions:Transgender women with HIV may be particularly vulnerable to pandemic harms. Mitigating this harm would benefit everyone, given the highly infectious nature of this coronavirus. Collecting gender identity in COVID-19 data is crucial to inform an effective public health response. Transgender-led organizations' response to this crisis serve as an important model for effective community-led interventions.

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Published In

Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

DOI

EISSN

1077-9450

ISSN

1525-4135

Publication Date

December 1, 2020

Volume

85

Issue

4

Start / End Page

E67 / E69

Related Subject Headings

  • Virology
  • 4206 Public health
  • 4202 Epidemiology
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1117 Public Health and Health Services
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Poteat, T. C., Reisner, S. L., Miller, M., & Wirtz, A. L. (2020). Vulnerability to COVID-19-related Harms among Transgender Women with and Without HIV Infection in the Eastern and Southern U.S. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 85(4), E67–E69. https://doi.org/10.1097/QAI.0000000000002490
Poteat, T. C., S. L. Reisner, M. Miller, and A. L. Wirtz. “Vulnerability to COVID-19-related Harms among Transgender Women with and Without HIV Infection in the Eastern and Southern U.S.Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 85, no. 4 (December 1, 2020): E67–69. https://doi.org/10.1097/QAI.0000000000002490.
Poteat TC, Reisner SL, Miller M, Wirtz AL. Vulnerability to COVID-19-related Harms among Transgender Women with and Without HIV Infection in the Eastern and Southern U.S. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. 2020 Dec 1;85(4):E67–9.
Poteat, T. C., et al. “Vulnerability to COVID-19-related Harms among Transgender Women with and Without HIV Infection in the Eastern and Southern U.S.Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, vol. 85, no. 4, Dec. 2020, pp. E67–69. Scopus, doi:10.1097/QAI.0000000000002490.
Poteat TC, Reisner SL, Miller M, Wirtz AL. Vulnerability to COVID-19-related Harms among Transgender Women with and Without HIV Infection in the Eastern and Southern U.S. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes. 2020 Dec 1;85(4):E67–E69.

Published In

Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes

DOI

EISSN

1077-9450

ISSN

1525-4135

Publication Date

December 1, 2020

Volume

85

Issue

4

Start / End Page

E67 / E69

Related Subject Headings

  • Virology
  • 4206 Public health
  • 4202 Epidemiology
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
  • 1117 Public Health and Health Services
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences