Trans Health is Public Health: The Prevalence of HIV Among Trans and Gender Expansive People in Kazakhstan.

Introduction: Trans and gender expansive (TGE) individuals around the world are at increased risk for contracting HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), yet the combination of stigma, accessibility challenges, and a lack of trans-specific, trans-affirming interventions perpetuates rates of infection. Due to the severe paucity of data on TGE communities and HIV in Central Asia, this study describes HIV infections (both known and newly detected) and STIs among TGE in a multicity Kazakhstan study.

Methods: This study utilized behavioral and biological assay data collected in a NIDA-funded clinical trial of a behavioral HIV preventive intervention for substance using cis and trans gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (GBMSM) across three Kazakhstan cities (Almaty, Astana, and Shymkent).