EXPLORING THE FEASIBILITY AND ACCEPTABILITY OF BIOMARKER COLLECTION FOR HIV INFECTION AND CHRONIC STRESS AMONG...

Area of Science:

• Health Psychology
• Transgender Health Research
• Biomarker Analysis

Background:

• Transgender women face unique health challenges, including higher risks for HIV and chronic stress.
• Assessing biomarkers offers a pathway to more targeted research and interventions for this population.
• Previous research has limited data on biomarker feasibility within the transgender community.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and acceptability of collecting biomarkers for chronic stress and HIV in transgender women.
• To qualitatively explore factors influencing biomarker collection in this demographic.
• To evaluate the potential for collecting additional biological specimens in future studies.

Main Methods:

• An exploratory mixed-methods study was conducted with 10 transgender women in Puerto Rico.
• Quantitative data included saliva and hair biomarkers for chronic stress and HIV.
• Qualitative data were gathered through in-depth interviews.

Main Results:

• Twenty percent of participants tested positive for HIV antibodies.
• Thirty percent exhibited hair cortisol levels above the normal range, indicating chronic stress.
• Key motivations for participation included health awareness and contributing to transgender health knowledge.

Conclusions:

• Biomarker collection is a feasible and acceptable method for assessing HIV and chronic stress in transgender women.
• This approach provides valuable data for understanding transgender health and designing effective interventions.
• Future research can build upon these findings to incorporate a wider range of biological specimens.