transgender persons involved in the sex
industry in the following countries: Indonesia,
81% (2011); Malaysia, 84% (2009);
Cambodia, 36% (2009); India, 90% (20092010).13 There is no comparable data available
for China.
An increasing amount of evidence shows that
transgender women14 and transgender female
sex workers are among the populations most
heavily affected by HIV.15 Transgender women
are 49 times more likely to acquire HIV than all
adults of reproductive age.16 In global terms,
Economic
marginalization
as a result of institutiona l
discrimination, stigma, and low
levels of education contributes
to a severe lack of opportunities
for many transgender people...
Available
statistics
indicate
the following percentages of
transgender persons are involved
in the sex industry by country:14
Indonesia
Malaysia
Cambodia
India
81%
84%
36%
90%
China has no comparable data.
the rate of HIV infection among transgender
women engaged in sex work is 27.3%, and
the rate of infection among transgender persons overall is 14.7%.17
The rate of HIV infection among transgender sex workers is nine times higher than
that for female sex workers, and three times higher than for male sex workers.18
Epidemiological research has also found a higher incidence of other sexuallytransmitted diseases (STDs), such as syphilis and, gonorrhea among transgender
women in the Asia-Pacific Region.19 Similar research on transgender men20 is lacking
at present, so there is limited data on the incidence of HIV and STDs among them.21
However, transgender men who have sex with other men are likely to be at a higher risk
of HIV infection.
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) considers transgender
women who engage in sex work to be at increased risk of HIV infection.22 The
Commission on AIDS in Asia has predicted that, by 2020, transgender women and
MSM will together constitute the majority of all new HIV infections in the Asia-Pacific
region.23
13 UNAIDS. “The Gap Report,” July 2014, updated September 2014. http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/documents/2014/name,97466,en.asp, p. 76
(accessed September 29, 2014).
14 People who are born male but identify themselves as female.
15 Tonia Poteat et al., HIV risk and preventive interventions in transgender women sex workers. The Lancet. July 22, 2014.
16 UNAIDS. “The Gap Report.” p. 219.
17 Stefan D Daralatl. “Worldwide burden of HIV in transgender women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. ”The Lancet (March 2013): 214-22.
18 UNAIDS. “The Gap Report.” p. 220.
19 APTN, UNDP. “Lost in Transition: Transgender People, Rights and HIV Vulnerability in the Asia-Pacific Region”.
20 People who are born female but identify themselves as male.
21 APTN, UNDP. “Lost in Transition: Transgender People, Rights and HIV Vulnerability in the Asia-Pacific Region”.
22 UNAIDS. “The Gap Report,” p. 220.
23 APTN, UNDP. “Lost in Transition: Transgender People, Rights and HIV Vulnerability in the Asia-Pacific Region”.
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