Worldwide, transgender people are disproportionately affected by HIV compared to the general population. It is estimated that HIV prevalence among transgender women is 49 times higher than in the general adult population, and the Philippines is no exception.
A recent WHO policy brief for transgender women’s health and HIV in the Philippines included a 2013 survey which collected responses from 300 transgender women with sex work experience in the past 12 months. The survey found that, of respondents tested for HIV, 4% (11/299) tested positive—a prevalence higher than the national HIV prevalence of MSM in the Philippines (3%). In addition to this, about 84% experienced having anal sex without condoms in the last 12 months. The main reason given by respondents for this lack of protection was unavailability of condoms.
The report highlighted that there are no specific health services or guidelines for care directed to transgender people in the Philippines. With stigma and discrimination appearing to be major barriers to access to health services. It also highlights that MSM and transgender women have different health needs; and therefore must be treated as two different groups in HIV health services and HIV surveillance.
Organizations of transgender people were also mentioned as essential partners in delivering comprehensive training on human sexuality and gender expression given their ability to facilitate interaction with members of communities with diverse gender identities and expressions, thereby generating greater understanding of their emotional health and social needs and the cost of inaction against transphobia.
Specific data on transgender populations are still lacking given that transgender people are often included under the category of men who have sex with men (MSM) in epidemiological surveillance systems. This new WHO policy brief is intended as a resource for governments, donors and partners, to help them identify what needs to be done to address HIV among transgender people as transgender-specific HIV data are limited.