Barriers to HIV Care among Transgender Sex Workers of Colour in the USA and Canada: An Intersectional Scoping Review.

Abstract

Objectives: In 2018, HIV prevalence among transgender women of color in the USA was 14.11%, with similar severe trends observed in Canada. This highlights the persistent challenge of HIV/AIDS in both countries, particularly for transgender sex workers of color (TSWOC), who face significant barriers to accessing crucial HIV/AIDS care services due to stigma, systemic discrimination, and biased healthcare practices. To address these issues, a scoping review was undertaken to explore the specific barriers to HIV/AIDS care experienced by TSWOC in the United States and Canada.

Methods: After various database searches (MEDLINE, PubMed, and Google Scholar) using the PRISMA-ScR methodology, 47 studies were extracted. Studies were then screened on Covidence by using the set inclusion and exclusion criteria. After screening, fifteen studies met the criteria.

Results: The results were thematically organized using an intersectionality-grounded socio-ecological model. Results revealed individual-level challenges of internalized stigma, interpersonal issues with biased healthcare providers, and community-level problems such as lack of support and enduring stigma. Notable structural barriers, consistent across studies, included homelessness, economic marginalization, and institutional transphobia. Institutionalized cisnormativity in healthcare was also found to exacerbate these challenges.

Conclusions: The findings underscore a feedback loop intensifying HIV/AIDS burdens within TSWOC due to intersecting stigmas and structural disparities. The review advocates for trans-specific and trans-inclusive HIV/AIDS services to address unique challenges, emphasizing the imperative for holistic, trauma-informed HIV care for this underserved population.