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Exploring Barriers and Facilitators to Participation of Male-to-Female Transgender Persons in Preventive HIV Vaccine Clinical Trials

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Abstract

Observed seroincidence and prevalence rates in male-to-female (MTF) transgender individuals highlight the need for effective targeted HIV prevention strategies for this community. In order to develop an effective vaccine that can be used by transgender women, researchers must understand and address existing structural issues that present barriers to this group’s participation in HIV vaccine clinical trials. Overcoming barriers to participation is important for ensuring HIV vaccine acceptability and efficacy for the MTF transgender community. To explore barriers and facilitators to MTF transgender participation in preventive HIV vaccine clinical trials, the HIV Vaccine Trials Network conducted focus groups among transgender women in four urban areas (Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, and San Francisco). Barriers and facilitators to engagement of transgender women in preventive HIV vaccine clinical trials led to the following recommendations: (a) transgender cultural competency training, (b) creating trans-friendly environments, (c) true partnerships with local trans-friendly organizations and health care providers, (d) protocols that focus on transgender specific issues, and (e) data collection and tracking of transgender individuals. These results have implications for the conduct of HIV vaccine trials, as well as engagement of transgender women in research programs in general.

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Notes

  1. Although all participants reported having sex with men during screening and were thus eligible to participate, one participant reported not having sex with men on the demographic form completed prior to the focus group.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) grant number 3U01AI068614-04S1 (to Dr. Larry Corey). This publication resulted (in part) from research for the Leadership Group for a Global HIV Vaccine Clinical Trials Network supported by the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) grant number 5UM1AI068614. We would like to sincerely thank the HIV Vaccine Trials Network Clinical Research Site (CRS) staff at the Hope Clinic of Emory University, Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston, the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and the San Francisco Department of Public Health for their guidance and contributions. We would also like to express our appreciation and gratitude to the staff at the following agencies who assisted in recruitment and provided space to conduct focus groups: AID Atlanta (Atlanta, GA), TransCEND (Boston, MA), Trans-Thrive (San Francisco), and the COLOURS Organization, Inc. (Philadelphia). Many thanks to all of the transgender women who volunteered their time and personal information to this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. HVTN Social Scientist, HIV Vaccine Trials Network, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue N, E3-300, Seattle, WA, 98109-1024, USA

    Michele Peake Andrasik

  2. HIV Vaccine Trials Unit, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA

    Ro Yoon

  3. The Office of HIV/AIDS Network Coordination (HANC), Seattle, WA, USA

    Jessica Mooney

  4. Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA

    Gail Broder

  5. HIV Vaccine Trials Unit, The Hope Clinic of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Marcus Bolton

  6. HIV Vaccine Trials Unit, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Teress Votto

  7. HIV Vaccine Trials Unit, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Annet Davis-Vogel

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  1. Michele Peake Andrasik
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  2. Ro Yoon
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  3. Jessica Mooney
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  4. Gail Broder
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  6. Teress Votto
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  7. Annet Davis-Vogel
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HVTN 505 study team

NIAID HIV Vaccine Trials Network

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Correspondence to Michele Peake Andrasik.

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Andrasik, M.P., Yoon, R., Mooney, J. et al. Exploring Barriers and Facilitators to Participation of Male-to-Female Transgender Persons in Preventive HIV Vaccine Clinical Trials. Prev Sci 15, 268–276 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-013-0371-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-013-0371-0

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