MARPS in Uganda and Masaka KP HIV Awareness & Prevention Support Organisation ( MAHIPSO) have collaborated to provide Information, Education, Communication (IEC) on Transgender Persons’ quality health best practices.
We have heard of Transgender who are living with HIV. But, beyond that what else do we hear? Have you ever wondered where such a conversation would lead?
An analysis by the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) of PrEP prescriptions between suggests PrEP is being disproportionately prescribed to Transgender persons being the most affected by HIV across all key populations (KP). This scenario can be transferred to Uganda as well.
When analysed for across KP types, Transgender are the most under represented as far as reporting on ARV uptake in Uganda, despite their being the most vulnerable to HIV.
Most Transgender who are out are between 17-35 years. Generally, there are less PrEP users aged between 18 and 44, suggesting younger people from key populations are not accessing PrEP. Yet young people (aged 13-24) account for a bigger percentage of new HIV infections in Uganda.
It is not known among the Transgender using antiretrovirals for treatment rather than prevention purposes, in addition to those defined as post-exposure prophylaxis users.
LGBTIQ+ related data need to be made available to analyze PrEP users, address low proportion of Transgender persons being offered PrEP.
The overall gap between those in need of PrEP and those to whom it is being prescribed, suggests significant barriers to PrEP access exist.
These barriers need to be better understood and addressed for PrEP to become truly effective as a tool for preventing HIV.
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| Source: Avert |
