@article {CortesA284, author = {R N Cortes}, title = {P3.436 Improving Strategies in Identifying Transgender Women Clients Towards Data Disaggregation in the Philippine Integrated HIV Behavioural and Serological Surveillance (IHBSS)}, volume = {89}, number = {Suppl 1}, pages = {A284--A285}, year = {2013}, doi = {10.1136/sextrans-2013-051184.0886}, publisher = {The Medical Society for the Study of Venereal Disease}, abstract = {Since 2007, the Philippine Integrated HIV Behavioral and Serological Surveillance (IHBSS) still lump the transgender (TG) women population with men having sex with men (MSM), which is a socio-political issue among empowered Filipino TG women. Recognizing similar sexual behaviour risks among MSM and TG women, the latter associated with body modifications concept(i.e. hormone replacement, collagen injections/implants) have a heightened risk due to unsafe and improper injecting practises. Thus, the ISEAN-Hivos Program (IHP) (a Global Fund Multi-country Grant) in the Philippines, through consultations with the TG community, aims to develop an operational TG definition that would hopefully be feasible in a national surveillance. The method used was the conduct of four (4) focus group discussions (FGDs) with TG women members (with 5{\textendash}10 participants each FGD) from community-based organisations (CBOs) in Metro Manila, Cebu City and Davao City. The findings revealed that majority of the participants do not generally agree with the three (3) proposed qualifiers/criteria in identifying TG women used in the IHBSS 2011 MSM questionnaire. {\textquotedblleft}Looks like a female{\textquotedblright} is subjective; {\textquotedblleft}Taking/injecting hormones{\textquotedblright} is not necessary; and those who have {\textquotedblleft}undergone sex reassignment surgery{\textquotedblright} would identify themselves as a non-TG woman. Some of the suggestions are the inclusion of a time element in one{\textquoteright}s gender identification/expression to eliminate those who just occasionally identifies/express themselves as female; consider any form of affirming one{\textquoteright}s identity as a woman; and the use of three (3) questions - asking one{\textquoteright}s sex assigned birth, gender identity and gender expression. The study concludes with IHP-Philippines{\textquoteright} proposed operational definition of TG women: those whose sex assigned birth is male; and whose gender identity is generally female and/or whose gender expression is generally feminine. They need not undergo any form of body modification, may have varying sexual orientations, and may self-identify using various local gender terms.}, issn = {1368-4973}, URL = {https://sti.bmj.com/content/89/Suppl_1/A284.3}, eprint = {https://sti.bmj.com/content/89/Suppl_1/A284.3.full.pdf}, journal = {Sexually Transmitted Infections} }