Hazardous alcohol use among transwomen in a Brazilian city

• Main Authors: Florence Kerr-Corrêa, Francisco Marto Leal Pinheiro Júnior, Telma Alves Martins, Daniel Lucas da Conceição Costa, Raimunda Hermelinda Maia Macena, Rosa Maria Salani Mota, Marcelle Yumi Yaegaschi, Kalina Lívia Lopes Carneiro, Carl Kendall, Ligia Regina Franco Sansigolo Kerr
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz
• Series: Cadernos de Saúde Pública
• Subjects: Consumo de Bebidas Alcohólicas; Personas Transgénero; Travestismo
• Online Access: http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-311X2017000305004&lng=en&tlng=en

Abstract: There is a lack of information about alcohol use by transgender women. We estimated the prevalence of dangerous alcohol use in the last 12 months by transgender women, who are known as travestis in Brazil, and we identified the associated risk factors. Three hundred travestis were recruited using Respondent Driving Sampling (RDS). We applied the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). We controlled the sample by applying a weight to each interviewee. Three quarters (74.2%) of travestis were regular drinkers, half (48.7%) scored over eight in the AUDIT and 14.8% scored over 20. The risk factors for alcohol use were: aged over 24, low income and unprotected sex. The dangerous use of alcohol is prevalent among travestis. Given that this group has a greater risk of HIV infection and transmission, and that the dangerous use of alcohol was associated with unsafe sex, specific intervention strategies are required.