This project undertakes a large-scale quantitative and qualitative investigation into the lived experiences of transgender, gender non-conforming and gender non-binary persons in the Indian science ecosystem. Towards this goal, the study uses four key research methods: (a) applications under the Right to Information Act, 2005 to investigate the status of implementation of the legislative, judicial and policy documents that govern the access of transgender, gender non-conforming and gender non-binary persons to the Indian science ecosystem; (b) a policyscape approach to policy analysis to understand the effectiveness of the legislative, judicial and policy interventions that govern the access of transgender, gender non-conforming and gender non-binary persons to the Indian science ecosystem; (c) qualitative interviews and focus group discussions to understand the ways in which transgender, gender non-conforming and gender non-binary persons negotiate the Indian science ecosystem; and (d) a comparative historiography to understand and explicate the possibilities of political solidarity between different marginalised groups in the context of higher education in science in India, including caste-, gender- and disability-marginalised groups.

Transgender women (TGW) in India, especially those who engage in sex work, are at high risk for HIV. Guided by the information-motivation-behavioral skills model and qualitative formative research findings, Sakhi (girlfriend), a 3-week smartphone-based pilot intervention consisting of short videos (one/week) and text messages (two/week), was implemented using a one-group pre- and post-test design to test its efficacy in promoting condom use and HIV testing among TGW (n = 50) who engage in sex work in Chennai. Changes in outcomes were assessed by conducting multivariable analyses using generalized estimating equations. Participants’ mean age was 26 years, and the mean monthly income was INR 21700 (USD 292). About one-third completed college, and 96% were HIV-negative. Significant changes in the desired direction were observed in the primary outcomes: condom use – decrease in the engagement of condomless anal sex with male partners (12% to 2%, p < 0.05) and HIV testing – increase in intentions to undergo HIV testing every 6 months (34% to 86%, p < 0.001); and in some of the secondary outcomes: decrease in alcohol use before sex, increase in intentions to use condoms consistently and increase in the well-being score. This study demonstrated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the Sakhi intervention and warrants a larger randomized trial among diverse subgroups in diverse settings.

No abstract