Correlates of depressive symptoms in transgender women initiating HIV treatment in Argentina

Abstract

Introduction

Transgender women (TGW) experience high prevalence of depression worldwide.

Methods

This study analyzed the prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms among 61 HIV + TGW (age: M = 29.87 years, SD = 6.51) from Argentina; through questionnaires assessing psychosocial vulnerability, gender identity stigma (GIS) and violence, mental health, substance use, and protective factors.

Results

Half of the respondents showed significant depressive symptoms. In the multivariable logistic regression model, unstable housing, GIS from police, anxiety, and lifetime suicide attempts predicted increased odds of depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

The role of institutional GIS and psychosocial vulnerability in the development of depression should be considered in HIV and mental health care for TGW.

Keywords:

• Transgender women
• depression
• gender identity stigma
• CES-D
• HIV

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank our collaborators: Asociación de Travestis, Transexuales y Transgéneros de Argentina (A.T.T.T.A) and Asociación Civil Hotel Gondolin; and the transgender women who participated, without whom this study would not have been possible.

Ethics statement

No competing financial interests exist.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by ViiV Healthcare under Grant GSK 202037.