A comparative study of transgender women accessing HIV testing via face-to-face and telemedicine services in Chiang Mai, Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic and their risk of being HIV-positive
Abstract Background Due to the restricted availability of health services in Thailand, there are still some transgender women (TGW) who do not have access to HIV counseling and testing. Telehealth, which is accessible to individuals who are reluctant to undergo face-to-face interviewing, played an e...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17124-2 |
| _version_ | 1797636613300289536 |
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| author | Nontiya Homkham Natthaporn Manojai Pongpeera Patpeerapong Rattawit Apiputthipan Pimwarat Srikummoon Unyamanee Kummaraka Phisanu Chiawkhun Apinut Rankantha Patrinee Traisathit |
| author_facet | Nontiya Homkham Natthaporn Manojai Pongpeera Patpeerapong Rattawit Apiputthipan Pimwarat Srikummoon Unyamanee Kummaraka Phisanu Chiawkhun Apinut Rankantha Patrinee Traisathit |
| author_sort | Nontiya Homkham |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Due to the restricted availability of health services in Thailand, there are still some transgender women (TGW) who do not have access to HIV counseling and testing. Telehealth, which is accessible to individuals who are reluctant to undergo face-to-face interviewing, played an especially important role during the COVID-19 epidemic. The objectives of this study are to compare the characteristics, pattern of accessing HIV testing, and the HIV-positive rates of TGW between the face-to-face and telemedicine services. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study to compare the access to HIV testing and the HIV-positive rates among TGW via face-to-face service and telemedicine services and examined the influence of potential associated factors on the risk of being HIV-positive. Results Of the 637 TGW participants, 26 (4.1%) were HIV-positive. Accessing the telemedicine service increased in the third and fourth COVID-19 waves (28.1% in the first and second vs. 71.9% in the third and fourth). There was no difference in the risk of being HIV-positive between the types of service. Having sex work experience (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 5.92; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.57–22.30) and either never having been or tested more than 1 year ago were independently significantly associated with a higher risk of being HIV-positive (aOR = 4.05; 95% CI: 1.11–14.77). Conclusion The telemedicine service became more popular among TGW during the COVID-19 pandemic and was not related to a higher risk of being HIV-positive. Moreover, it proved to be an effective alternative channel to access HIV testing, especially for intravenous drug users. Sex work experience and irregular HIV testing are key risk factors for HIV infection in TGW seeking either the telemedicine or face-to-face service. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:37:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-56088cb89e64446386d40a0dee4ac700 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:37:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-56088cb89e64446386d40a0dee4ac7002023-11-05T12:31:42ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-11-0123111010.1186/s12889-023-17124-2A comparative study of transgender women accessing HIV testing via face-to-face and telemedicine services in Chiang Mai, Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic and their risk of being HIV-positiveNontiya Homkham0Natthaporn Manojai1Pongpeera Patpeerapong2Rattawit Apiputthipan3Pimwarat Srikummoon4Unyamanee Kummaraka5Phisanu Chiawkhun6Apinut Rankantha7Patrinee Traisathit8Faculty of Public Health, Thammasat UniversityMplus FoundationMplus FoundationMplus FoundationDepartment of Statistics, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai UniversityDepartment of Statistics, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai UniversityDepartment of Statistics, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai UniversityDepartment of Statistics, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai UniversityDepartment of Statistics, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai UniversityAbstract Background Due to the restricted availability of health services in Thailand, there are still some transgender women (TGW) who do not have access to HIV counseling and testing. Telehealth, which is accessible to individuals who are reluctant to undergo face-to-face interviewing, played an especially important role during the COVID-19 epidemic. The objectives of this study are to compare the characteristics, pattern of accessing HIV testing, and the HIV-positive rates of TGW between the face-to-face and telemedicine services. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study to compare the access to HIV testing and the HIV-positive rates among TGW via face-to-face service and telemedicine services and examined the influence of potential associated factors on the risk of being HIV-positive. Results Of the 637 TGW participants, 26 (4.1%) were HIV-positive. Accessing the telemedicine service increased in the third and fourth COVID-19 waves (28.1% in the first and second vs. 71.9% in the third and fourth). There was no difference in the risk of being HIV-positive between the types of service. Having sex work experience (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 5.92; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.57–22.30) and either never having been or tested more than 1 year ago were independently significantly associated with a higher risk of being HIV-positive (aOR = 4.05; 95% CI: 1.11–14.77). Conclusion The telemedicine service became more popular among TGW during the COVID-19 pandemic and was not related to a higher risk of being HIV-positive. Moreover, it proved to be an effective alternative channel to access HIV testing, especially for intravenous drug users. Sex work experience and irregular HIV testing are key risk factors for HIV infection in TGW seeking either the telemedicine or face-to-face service.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17124-2HIV testingTelemedicine serviceFace-to-face serviceCOVID-19Transgender women |
| spellingShingle | Nontiya Homkham Natthaporn Manojai Pongpeera Patpeerapong Rattawit Apiputthipan Pimwarat Srikummoon Unyamanee Kummaraka Phisanu Chiawkhun Apinut Rankantha Patrinee Traisathit A comparative study of transgender women accessing HIV testing via face-to-face and telemedicine services in Chiang Mai, Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic and their risk of being HIV-positive BMC Public Health HIV testing Telemedicine service Face-to-face service COVID-19 Transgender women |
| title | A comparative study of transgender women accessing HIV testing via face-to-face and telemedicine services in Chiang Mai, Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic and their risk of being HIV-positive |
| title_full | A comparative study of transgender women accessing HIV testing via face-to-face and telemedicine services in Chiang Mai, Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic and their risk of being HIV-positive |
| title_fullStr | A comparative study of transgender women accessing HIV testing via face-to-face and telemedicine services in Chiang Mai, Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic and their risk of being HIV-positive |
| title_full_unstemmed | A comparative study of transgender women accessing HIV testing via face-to-face and telemedicine services in Chiang Mai, Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic and their risk of being HIV-positive |
| title_short | A comparative study of transgender women accessing HIV testing via face-to-face and telemedicine services in Chiang Mai, Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic and their risk of being HIV-positive |
| title_sort | comparative study of transgender women accessing hiv testing via face to face and telemedicine services in chiang mai thailand during the covid 19 pandemic and their risk of being hiv positive |
| topic | HIV testing Telemedicine service Face-to-face service COVID-19 Transgender women |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-17124-2 |
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