"We Already Knew What Time It Was:" HIV, COVID19, and Black Transgender Women in the South.

Abstract

Black transgender women in the Southeast are at the center of the modern-day HIV crisis in the U.S. This focus group study was aimed at understanding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health and well-being of Black transgender women in the U.S. Southeast who are affected by HIV. From April-June 2022, we completed seven focus group interviews with 56 participants. Themes identified across the focus groups show: 1) the challenges that pre-dated COVID-19; 2) the challenges of managing COVID-19 risk; 3) negative consequences for mental health, physical health, and overall well-being; 4) negative trends in coping with pandemic stress; 5) the importance of self-care and social support for managing pandemic stress; and 6) the need for more community-based resources. Findings demonstrate that understanding these social determinants of health is vital to developing support resources in this ongoing health crisis and crises yet to come.