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Life Skills: Evaluation of a Theory-Driven Behavioral HIV Prevention Intervention for Young Transgender Women

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Abstract

Young transgender women are at increased risk for HIV infection due to factors related to stigma/marginalization and participation in risky sexual behaviors. To date, no HIV prevention interventions have been developed or proven successful with young transgender women. To address this gap, we developed and pilot tested a homegrown intervention “Life Skills,” addressing the unique HIV prevention needs of young transgender women aged 16–24 years. Study aims included assessing the feasibility of a small group-based intervention with the study population and examining participant’s engagement in HIV-related risk behaviors pre- and 3-months-post-intervention. Fifty-one (N = 51) young transgender women enrolled in the study. Our overall attendance and retention rates demonstrate that small group-based HIV prevention programs for young transgender women are both feasible and acceptable. Trends in outcome measures suggest that participation in the intervention may reduce HIV-related risk behaviors. Further testing of the intervention with a control group is warranted.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Life Skills staff, Amy Herrick, Jenny Hopwood, Vea Cleary, and Taylor Casey whose hard work on the curriculum, recruitment, and intervention delivery made this project a success, and to the intervention participants for their time and contribution to the project.

Funding source

This research was support by CDC grant UR6 PS000396 to Robert Garofalo.

Disclaimer

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Memorial Hospital/Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Robert Garofalo & Amy K. Johnson

  2. Department of Research, Howard Brown Health Center, Chicago, IL, USA

    Robert Garofalo, Amy K. Johnson, Lisa M. Kuhns & Christopher Cotten

  3. Division of Social Work, Indiana University Northwest, Gary, IN, USA

    Christopher Cotten

  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Heather Joseph & Andrew Margolis

  5. Children’s Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA

    Robert Garofalo

Authors
  1. Robert Garofalo
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  2. Amy K. Johnson
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  3. Lisa M. Kuhns
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  4. Christopher Cotten
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  5. Heather Joseph
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  6. Andrew Margolis
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Correspondence to Robert Garofalo.

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Garofalo, R., Johnson, A.K., Kuhns, L.M. et al. Life Skills: Evaluation of a Theory-Driven Behavioral HIV Prevention Intervention for Young Transgender Women. J Urban Health 89, 419–431 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-011-9638-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-011-9638-6

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