NYC Health
TRANSGENDER WOMEN AND HIV PREVENTION
IN NEW YORK CITY
A Needs Assessment
Prepared by
Paul Kobrak
Director of Risk Reduction in Vulnerable Populations
Bureau of HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
With the assistance of
Bali White
Research Consultant
Retrieved from the Internet on August 19, 2011 by SJ
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/nyregion/Transgender-Women-and-HIV-Prevention.pdf (http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/nyregion/Transgender-Women-and-HIV-Prevention.pdf)
Executive Summary
Transgender women – individuals who were assigned a male sex at birth but who prefer a female identity
– are at very high risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. To aid in the design of an HIV
prevention initiative for transgender women, the New York City Department of Health and Mental
Hygiene carried out the following needs assessment. The study broadly examines the social, sexual and
economic factors that contribute to transgender women's high rate of HIV infection. It was based on indepth
interviews with 45 transgender women, mainly of Latin American and African descent,
supplemented by six interviews with men who partner with transgender women, and by additional
discussions with researchers, advocates and service providers.
Note-This is a draft report, it is linked to the NY Times article The High Price of Looking Like a Woman, August 19, 2011, posted by Natasha on the PEOPLE News Board August 19, 2011.