Background In general, transgender women represent a vulnerable population at high risk for HIV infection. However, within this population, there are several identities which may have different risk behaviors. Transvestites and transgender women are the major of them. The aim of this study is to evaluate the difference between individuals who self-declared being a transvestite or transgender woman, considering HIV infection, sociodemographic characteristics, and risk behaviors.

Methods From May to December 2018, 180 participants were recruited in the metropolitan region of the City of Goiania, Brazil: transvestites (n=74) and transgender women (n=106). All of them were interviewed on sociodemographics and risk behaviors for sexually transmitted infections, and tested for anti-HIV 1 and 2 by rapid test.

Results Transvestites were younger than transgender women, had less education, and were predominantly sex workers. They also reported more sexual partners in the previous week and were younger at sexual initiation. They had more frequent sex with men and women, sex with gay men, and sex with transvestites than transgender women. In addition, they reported more frequent sex with multiple partners, history of STI, illicit drug use and history of incarceration (p < 0.05). On the other hand, more transgender women reported no condom use at their last sexual encounter than transvestites (p < 0.05). The prevalence of anti-HIV1 was 29.7% vs. 17.9% between transvestites and transgender women. The CHAID decision tree analysis identified two variables that differentiated being transvestite and transgender: being a sex worker and a history of STI.

Conclusion These findings highlight differences between subpopulations of transwomen which should be considered for planning and implementation of health strategies to prevent and control STIs in this complex population.

Disclosure No significant relationships.