Australian Trans and Gender Diverse (TGD) People and HIV/AIDS: A Discussion Paper

Belinda Chaplin,Peta Harbour

doi:10.18689/mja-1000106

Abstract

Australian Trans and Gender Diverse (TGD) People and HIV/AIDS: A Discussion Paper

Highlights

We are in the 21st century where Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a treatable chronic condition through the use of antiretroviral therapies (ARTs)
While Trans and Gender Diverse (TGD) women are noted as a key population by World Health Organisation (WHO) [9], in the Australian context, they are not included as part of the Australian epidemic [14]
The prevalence of TGD people is estimated at 1.4% of the global population [31], yet are up to 4% of HIV notifications in Australia, which indicates a greater prevalence than the cisgender population

Summary

Main body

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is defined as a “blood-borne, sexually transmissible virus typically transmitted via sexual intercourse, shared intravenous drug paraphernalia, and mother to child transmission [1]. HIV attacks the immune system of its host and as the disease progresses, the host’s immune system fails to respond to normally benign infections [1] It is a treatable chronic condition, but if left untreated, is a precursor to AIDS, or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome [2]. In a report by UNAIDS [10], it was estimated that 19% of TGD women live with HIV globally. While TGD women are noted as a key population by WHO [9], in the Australian context, they are not included as part of the Australian epidemic [14] In effect, they are erased from the current discourse on HIV [15].

Conclusion

Acknowledgements discourse exists around Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Findings

Conflict of Interest