Serological Confirmed Syphilis Among Transgender Women in Dominican Republic.

PURPOSE: Transgender women (TW) in the Dominican Republic (DR) are at high risk for syphillis infection. Although treatable, infection rates remain at epidemic proportions.

METHODS

In 2016, we conducted a national survey, with serological sampling of TW in the DR (n=255).

RESULTS

In our sample, syphillis seropositivity was 47.45%. There was a statistically significant association between age (t=-2.93, df, p<0.01), arrest history (χ 2=8.15, p<0.01), exposure to violence (χ 2=3.73, p<0.05), and syphilis seropositivity. Multivariate analyses show TW arrested in the past 6 months have higher odds of seropositivity (odds ratio=2.05, confidence interval: 1.04-4.06, p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a need for education and public health campaigns focused on TW specifically.