Katie Kosko

Urban Health Today

Referral rates for mental health and substance use services are low among transgender women living with HIV, especially in Latina and Black transgender women populations, according to a recent study published in <a href="https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12905-024-02885-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BMC Women’s Health</a>.
Researchers used data from a 2022 baseline assessment for an intervention with transgender women living with HIV in San Francisco, California.
Of the 42 transgender women who participated, most were transgender women of color, including Black (31.0%), Latina (28.6%), and Asian/Pacific Islander (14.3%). Just over 14% of participants identified as White.
Most participants were 30 years or older, with low income (earned equal to or less than $1000 a month), and nearly half were unstably housed (homeless, living in a shelter/motel, or living on the street).
The data showed significant unmet needs for mental health and substance use services. Among transgender women living with HIV who screened positive for depression, anxiety, and/or psychological distress, 56.3% were referred for mental health services in the past 12 months. Of those referred, 44.4% received mental health services.
Furthermore, all transgender women who identified as Latina screened positive for a mental health disorder, yet only half of them were referred for mental health services.
Substance use was also measured, and the researchers found that most (85.7%) participants consumed alcohol. Drug use included methamphetamines (47.6%), cocaine (23.8%), opioids (7.1%), and polysubstance use, excluding cannabis (23.8%).
Of the participants who screened positive for a substance use disorder, 34.6% were referred to substance use services in the past 12 months and 33.3% had received substance use services in the past 3 months.
Nearly half of Black transgender women screened positive for a drug use disorder, but only 16.7% were referred for treatment and none were in treatment at the time of the study.
Forty-one of the participants were currently taking HIV medications, and of those, 27 had an undetectable HIV viral load. Although the researchers found no significant results between HIV viral load and screening positive for a mental health disorder, they saw that methamphetamine use was a barrier to having an undetectable viral load.
“To finally end the HIV epidemic, integration of behavioral health screening, linkage, and support are needed in HIV care services for populations most impacted by HIV, especially transgender women,” the researchers said.

Referral rates for mental health and substance use services are low among transgender women living with HIV, especially in Latina and Black transgender women populations, according to a recent study published in <a href="https://bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12905-024-02885-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BMC Women’s Health</a>.Researchers used data from a 2022 baseline assessment for an intervention with transgender women living with HIV in San Francisco, California.Of the 42 transgender women who participated, most were transgender women of color, including Black (31.0%), Latina (28.6%), and Asian/Pacific Islander (14.3%). Just over 14% of participants identified as White.Most participants were 30 years or older, with low income (earned equal to or less than $1000 a month), and nearly half were unstably housed (homeless, living in a shelter/motel, or living on the street).The data showed significant unmet needs for mental health and substance use services. Among transgender women living with HIV who screened positive for depression, anxiety, and/or psychological distress, 56.3% were referred for mental health services in the past 12 months. Of those referred, 44.4% received mental health services.Furthermore, all transgender women who identified as Latina screened positive for a mental health disorder, yet only half of them were referred for mental health services.Substance use was also measured, and the researchers found that most (85.7%) participants consumed alcohol. Drug use included methamphetamines (47.6%), cocaine (23.8%), opioids (7.1%), and polysubstance use, excluding cannabis (23.8%).Of the participants who screened positive for a substance use disorder, 34.6% were referred to substance use services in the past 12 months and 33.3% had received substance use services in the past 3 months.Nearly half of Black transgender women screened positive for a drug use disorder, but only 16.7% were referred for treatment and none were in treatment at the time of the study.Forty-one of the participants were currently taking HIV medications, and of those, 27 had an undetectable HIV viral load. Although the researchers found no significant results between HIV viral load and screening positive for a mental health disorder, they saw that methamphetamine use was a barrier to having an undetectable viral load.“To finally end the HIV epidemic, integration of behavioral health screening, linkage, and support are needed in HIV care services for populations most impacted by HIV, especially transgender women,” the researchers said.

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