Sexually transmitted infection testing among transgender and non-binary persons: results of a community-based cross-sectional survey
Ashley Lacombe-Duncan
A * , Shanna K. Kattari A B , Leonardo Kattari C , Ayden I. Scheim D and Brayden A. Misiolek E
A University of Michigan, School of Social Work, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
B University of Michigan, Department of Women’s and Gender Studies, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
C Michigan State University, School of Social Work, East Lansing, MI, USA.
D Drexel University, Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
E Transcend the Binary, Ferndale, MI, USA.
Sexual Health 20(1) 87-91 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH22128
Submitted: 10 August 2022 Accepted: 15 October 2022 Published: 9 November 2022
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing
Abstract
Background: Studies show higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among transgender (trans) and non-binary (TNB) persons compared with the general population. Scant studies have examined non-HIV STI testing (henceforth referred to as STI testing); fewer inclusive of trans men and non-binary persons. We characterised the prevalence of STI testing and time since last STI test and gender-based differences in these outcomes among TNB persons.
Methods: Data were analysed from a 2018 community-based participatory cross-sectional survey (n = 528). Prevalence of lifetime STI testing history and time since last STI test were reported overall and compared across genders (trans men, trans women, non-binary assigned female at-birth, non-binary assigned male at-birth) using Chi-squared, then bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses to compare lifetime STI testing history (ever vs never) across sociodemographic and health care characteristics.
Results: Most (n = 425; 80.5%) participants reported having ever had an STI test; over half (59.8%) ever tested had tested within the past year. Bivariate analyses showed no significant gender differences in lifetime STI testing history (P = 0.298) or time since last STI test (P = 0.118). In a multivariable model, higher age, reporting multiple committed partners (vs single/divorced), known HIV status, and ever receiving information about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) were positively associated with ever having had an STI test, whereas Latinx race/ethnicity (vs white) was negatively associated.
Conclusions: Findings showed high rates of lifetime STI testing and recent testing, with no gender-based differences. Never testing rates were concerning considering screening recommendations. Broad based (non-gender specific) TNB-focused interventions may be warranted to increase uptake.
Keywords: agender, gender diverse, genderqueer, sexual health, STI screening, STI testing, trans men, trans women, transgender.
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