HIV-Related Knowledge and Health Care Seeking Barriers among Transgender Individuals in Dhaka City: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of HIV among Transgender is 1% while only 0.9% in Dhaka City having one-third times a lifetime higher risk of HIV infection. Being minority group barriers faced by transgenders for healthcare-seeking are major public health concerns. Thus, the study aims to find out the HIV-Related knowledge & Health Care Seeking Barriers among Transgender Individuals in Dhaka City. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study purposively selecting 135 transgender from Drop-in-center and three Hijra pollis of Dhaka City. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire containing a Likert scale regarding HIV-related knowledge. Results: Majority were professional sex sellers including 54.1% having irregular sexual clients while 48.9% had been engaged in sex work for more than 10 years. Although more than half (57%) had good HIV-related knowledge. Only one-third (37.3%) sometimes used barrier method and more than half (58%) had knowledge of HIV symptoms. The barriers were negligence (16%), inconvenient location (12.43%), shame (13.45%), judgmental (11.68%), fear (7.6%) and long waiting time (8.1%). Transgenders from Badda DIC had higher HIV-related knowledge compared to ones from hijra pollis [t (95% CI)=.168, p=.000] Those having HIV-related higher knowledge didn’t feel the necessity of isolated health corners [t (95% CI)= -3.799, p= .001] Conclusion: Although DIC provides healthcare services, but existing facilities barriers need to be addressed to extend health services.