Behavioral surveillance was undertaken among 1,150 male-to-female transgenders (waria) in Java, Indonesia, 2007; samples were collected for HIV and STI testing (n = 748). Almost all waria had ever sold sex (median duration 10 years). Prevalence of HIV was 24.4%, syphilis 26.8% and rectal gonorrhea and/or chlamydia 47.0%. Syphilis and rectal STIs were associated with HIV infection. Consistent condom use during receptive anal sex with clients was reported by 35.9% waria and was higher among those who visited an STI clinic and who knew their HIV status. Efforts should continue to strengthen behavior change and STI care in future HIV prevention programs.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic among FSW in Indonesia appears to be expanding, albeit unevenly across provinces and types of FSW. High STI prevalence is conducive to further expansion, but recent efforts to strengthen STI control appear promising.

BackgroundMale-to-female transgender (waria) individuals are at high risk for HIV. This study aims at mapping the psychological determinants of four HIV-related health-seeking behaviors. This knowledge can be used to develop effective interventions to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.MethodsThe study involved 209 waria from five districts in Jakarta, selected with a cluster sampling procedure. Cross-sectional data were gathered through structured interviews. The four examined behaviors are, visiting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) services regularly, adherence to STI treatment, taking an HIV test and picking up the result of HIV test. For all four behaviors, specific measures of the psychological determinants as defined by the Theory of Planned Behavior were developed: attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control (PBC). Logistic regression analyses were conducted with these three psychological measures as independent variables and the behaviors as dependent variables.ResultsOf the 209 waria, 20.6 % had never visited STI services in the last 6 months, while 56.5 % had visited the services once or twice, and 23 % had visited the service three or more times. A HIV test had been taken by 90.4 % of the waria, and of those, 64.6 % had picked up the results. About 85 % of the waria who did a HIV test had been tested for HIV one or two times in the last 6 months and 10 % had been tested three to four times. The variance in behaviors that was explained by the concepts defined in the Theory of Planned Behavior ranged from 15 to 70 %; PBC was the most powerful predictor. Furthermore, the results showed that in several cases the relationships of attitudes or subjective norms with the dependent variable were mediated by one or both other independent variables.ConclusionsThe results regarding the prominent role of PBC suggest that interventions should increase waria’s control over the behavior: Engaging in specific desired behaviors should be made easier for them. Besides, waria’s attitudes and subjective norms should be addressed, by education, but possibly also by providing waria with a positive experience with the behavior, for example, by designing a professional and friendly health care system.

IntroductionThe male-to-female transgender (waria) is part of a key population at higher risk for HIV. This study aims to test whether psychosocial determinants as defined by the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) can explain behaviours related to condom use among waria. Three preparatory behaviours (getting, carrying, and offering a condom) and two condom use behaviours (during receptive and insertive anal sex) were assessed.MethodsThe study involved 209 waria, recruited from five districts in Jakarta and interviewed by using structured questionnaires. Specific measures were developed to study attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control (PBC) in order to predict intentions and behaviours.ResultsThe explained variance between intentions with regard to three preparatory behaviours and two condom uses ranged between 30 and 57%, and the variance between the actual preparatory behaviours of three preparatory and two condom uses ranged between 21 and 42%. In our study, as with several previous studies of the TPB on HIV protection behaviours, the TPB variables differed in their predictive power. With regard to intention, attitude and PBC were consistently significant predictors; attitude was the strongest predictor of intention for all three preparatory behaviours, and PBC was the strongest predictor of intention for condom use, both during receptive and insertive anal sex. TPB variables were also significantly related to the second parameter of future behaviour: actual (past) behaviour. TPB variables were differentially related to the five behaviours. Attitude was predictive in three behaviours, PBC in three behaviours and subjective norms in two behaviours.ConclusionsOur results have implications for the development of interventions to target preparatory behaviours and condom use behaviours. Five behaviours and three psychological factors as defined in the TPB are to be targeted.

Strategic efforts are needed in Indonesia to implement the recently released human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Test and Treat policy which promotes increased treatment uptake, known to have important economic benefits. Of Indonesia’s estimated 631,635 people living with HIV (PLHIV) in 2018, only 12% are on treatment. The USAID- and PEPFAR-funded Human Resources for Health in 2030 (HRH2030) Program undertook policy analysis and assessed the available health workforce and service delivery at select sites in Jakarta to identify and anticipate Test and Treat implementation gaps. A mixed methods concurrent triangulation design was used, including policy analysis, key informant interviews, and site-level tools to capture workforce availability, skills, quality, and performance. Results indicate priorities to: define and implement HIV standards of practice for the Test and Treat policy; improve relevance and coordination of pre-service and in-service training programs; and support managers to optimize task and workforce allocation, including allocating lower-skilled workers to routine testing. Additional site-level data are needed from rural and remote sites in Indonesia, where fewer health workers are distributed. Efficiencies can help sustain HIV programs and contribute to epidemic control.Abstrak Upaya strategis dibutuhkan Indonesia untuk implementasi kebijakan Pemeriksaan dan Pengobatan (Test and Treat) HIV, seperti yang diterbitkan oleh USAID dan PEPFAR. Kebijakan ini mendorong peningkatan cakupan pengobatan yangd diyakini penting secara ekonomi. Diperkirakan pada tahun 2018 terdapat 631,635 ODHA di Indonesia dan hanya 12% yang menjalani pengobatan. Program HRH2030 yang didanai oleh USAID dan PEPFAR melakukan analisis kebijakan dan penilaian ketersediaan tenaga kesehatan dan pelayanan HIV di beberapa unit layanan di Jakarta, untuk mengidentifikasi dan mengantisipasi kesenjangan implementasi kebijakan. Kajian menggunakan metode campuran dengan melakukan analisis kebijakan, wawancara informan kunci, dan serangkaian alat asesmen tingkat unit layanan untuk menangkap informasi terkait ketersediaan, keterampilan, kualitas, dan kinerja tenaga kesehatan. Hasil kajian ini memprioritaskan adanya penetapan dan penerapan standar praktik layanan HIV yang sesuai dengan kebijakan Pemeriksaan dan Pengobatan. Peningkatan koordinasi program pendidikan pra-layanan dan pelatihan dalam jabatan dan dukungan kepada manajer unit layanan untuk mengoptimalkan alokasi tugas dan tenaga kesehatan menjadi hal yang penting. Pendekatan ini diharapkan dapat meningkatkan efisiensi layanan dan keberlanjutan program HIV. Data dan informasi tingkat unit layanan dibutuhkan, khususnya dari wilayah pedesaan dan terpencil.