Transgender women, particularly those from marginalized racial and ethnic groups, have been found to have disproportionately high rates of HIV, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The study, published in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, aimed to gather and assess behavioral data in relation to HIV prevention and risk among transgender women.

The survey, conducted at sites across seven U.S. cities between 2019-2020, involved over 1,600 transgender women who were also provided with HIV testing. Shockingly, the results revealed that 42% of the participants tested positive for HIV. Even more concerning was the fact that 62% of Black trans women tested positive, compared to 35% of Hispanic and Latina trans women, and 17% of white trans women.

Further analyses within the report focused on topics related to HIV exposure and other issues affecting trans women’s health, including access to and use of the preventative HIV medication pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), experiences such as homelessness and sexual violence, and suicidal ideation.

One of the key conclusions drawn from the report is that the discrimination faced by trans women increases their exposure to conditions such as violence, homelessness, and incarceration, consequently raising their risk of contracting HIV. The study sheds light on the high levels of social and economic marginalization experienced by trans women, particularly those from marginalized racial and ethnic groups, as potential factors contributing to their increased risk for HIV.

Joseph Osmundson, a clinical assistant professor of biology at New York University and queer health advocate, emphasized the significance of the research, stating, ‘It is no secret that trans people, trans women, and especially trans women of color face immense barriers in HIV prevention. This new research not only formalizes this knowledge but addresses some of the underlying reasons, including increased rates of homelessness and transactional sex.’

The findings underscore the urgent need for integrated support services targeting housing, behavioral health, and employment, among others, to address the underlying factors contributing to the heightened risk of HIV among transgender women. The study serves as a crucial step towards understanding and addressing the disparities in HIV rates among this vulnerable population.