Social determinants of HIV status and viral load suppression among transgender women in South Africa: a cross-sectional analysis.

ABSTRACT: Transgender women in South Africa face a heavy HIV burden, but data on key psychosocial and structural factors remain limited. This cross-sectional study examined associations between HIV outcomes and psychosocial (substance use, alcohol use, medical distrust, community connectedness) and structural (education, homelessness, income, sex work, violence) factors. We conducted interviewer-administered surveys with 213 transgender women in Cape Town, Johannesburg, and East London between June and November 2018. Of the 213 participants, 196 knew their HIV status and 67 reported living with HIV. Multivariable logistic regression found homelessness (aOR 4.50 [95%CI: 1.67, 12.23]), sex work (aOR 5.90 [95%CI: 2.14, 16.29]), and earning above the poverty level (aOR 3.08 [95%CI: 1.37, 6.94]) were sig

SUBMITTER: Poteat T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12363654 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature