Alcohol Use,High Risk Behaviors,and Experiences of Discrimination Among Transgender Women in the Dominican Republic |
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| Authors: | Kristine R. Hearld Adrienne N. Milner Henna Budhwani Nicole Abreau Rosa Mayra Rodriguez-Lauzurique Rebecca Charow |
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| Affiliation: | 1. University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA;2. Queen Mary University of London, London, UK;3. Instituto de Medicina Tropical and Salud Global, Universidad Iberoamericana-UNIBE, Los Rios, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana;4. Centro de Orientacion e Investigacion Integral (COIN), Santo Domingo, República Dominicana |
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| Abstract: | Objectives: This study examines associations between alcohol use, high risk sexual behaviors, and experiences of stigma among transgender women across the Dominican Republic. Data from the 2015 Transgender Health Needs Study were analyzed using bivariate analyses (N?=?291). Results: High rates of stigma, verbal abuse, alcohol use, and sex work are found and are associated with each other. Almost 45% of regular alcohol users are engaging in sex work (43.6%), compared with 31.1% of the non-regular alcohol users (χ2=4.82, p?Conclusions/Importance: Findings suggest that although anti-discrimination laws exist, policies may not protect transgender women from experiencing stigma and discrimination at work, potentially forcing them to seek alternative careers and engage in behaviors that expose them to greater personal risk and harm. This intersection of factors may indicate a notable public health gap in transgender health in the Dominican Republic. |
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| Keywords: | Transgender Dominican Republic sex work stigma alcohol |
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