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Global Health Econ Sustain Transgenders HIV-related knowledge and risk behaviors

engagement in professional sex work, limited healthcare behaviors. As transgender groups exist in diverse cultural
access, lack of knowledge regarding HIV transmission, settings, the generalizability of our findings may not be
experiences of violence, stigma and discrimination, and direct; this cultural specificity needs to be considered when
mental health issues (De Santis, 2009). interpreting the findings.
In summary, the study findings align closely with earlier Despite its limitations, this study reveals significant gaps
research, illustrating how stigma, discrimination, abuse, in our understanding of HIV awareness and health care-
and societal barriers limit employment opportunities for seeking behaviors among transgender individuals in Dhaka
transgender individuals in Bangladesh. These challenges city. Further investigations could explore the effectiveness
compel them to resort to traditional vocations, with sex of customized therapies and health-care access programs
work being a prevalent means of supporting their basic for this demographic, mitigating the recognized obstacles
needs (Budhwani et al., 2017). Recognizing HIV risk and promoting improved health outcomes. Longitudinal
factors and preventative measures is critical for prevention studies may offer insightful information on changes over
in key populations such as men who have sex with men time and their implications.
and transgender women (Salendri, 2018). Furthermore,
an extended duration of research involvement, HIV 5. Conclusion
seropositivity, higher education attainment, and increased According to the current study, even though half of the
internet use were identified as factors associated with population demonstrated high levels of HIV awareness,
improved overall HIV-related knowledge (Jones et al., 2020). one-third still engaged in some risky behaviors. Although
4.2. Strengths, limitations, and recommendations DIC provides health-care services, overcoming current
facility limitations is crucial to extending health-
The convenience sample strategy utilized to select care services to transgender individuals. Establishing
transgender individuals from specific regions in Dhaka transgender-friendly health corners is a time-demanding
city stands as a primary limitation of our study. Although issue to align with the standards of other facilities.
this method facilitated data collection from this difficult-
to-reach demographic, it introduces the potential for Acknowledgments
selection bias. It is conceivable that those visiting the DIC The authors sincerely thank everyone who consented
or Hijra Pollis may not entirely represent all transgender to participate in this study willingly, especially Prof.
individuals in the city. Therefore, the applicability of Dr. Ziaul Islam, Head of the Department of Community
our findings may not be uniform across all transgender Medicine at the NIPSOM, and Associate Prof. Dr. Fariha
individuals in Dhaka city.
Haseen, Department of Public Health and Informatics at
Second, another noteworthy challenge pertained Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
to language barriers, particularly with the use of the In addition, we also want to thank all of the transgender
“Ulti Vasha” language. This unfamiliarity may have individuals who helped us in collecting data.
influenced the complexity of interviews and the quality
of responses. Despite efforts to mitigate this restriction Funding
through comprehensive training and piloting, nuances in This study supported by a student Grant from
participants’ experiences may not have been fully captured. Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC. No:
Third, participants in our research were required to 2023-2024/264[1-74]).
recollect information over time to respond to questions on Conflict of interest
sexual risk behaviors and the duration of their engagement
in the sex industry. The potential for recall bias may arise as The authors claim that they have no known financial or
participants may not accurately remember certain aspects. interpersonal conflicts that could have influenced the
Despite our efforts to address this limitation through research provided in this paper.
cross-referencing replies with additional data, it is crucial
to recognize that recall bias may impact the accuracy of Author contributions
some conclusions. Conceptualization: Mantaka Rahman, Ummul Khair Alam
However, the experiences of transgender individuals Formal analysis: Mantaka Rahman, Ummul Khair Alam
in Bangladesh are significantly influenced by cultural
and societal influences. The cultural setting in which our Investigation: Mantaka Rahman, Afroza Tamanna Shimu
study was carried out may have influenced participants’ Methodologies: Mantaka Rahman, Ummul Khair Alam,
views on HIV-related knowledge and health care-seeking Ajmari Sharmin

Volume 2 Issue 1 (2024) 6 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.1643