Review protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis on HIV inequities in transgender and non-binary populations
Year: 2025
Type: review
Study design: Study Protocol
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Global disparities in HIV prevalence among transgender women are well documented. However, current epidemiological literature on HIV disparities demonstrates gaps in research that include the diversity within transgender populations-for example, transgender men and non-binary trans people across global regions. This systematic review and meta-analysis protocol aims to summarise global HIV inequities among all transgender and non-binary (trans) populations. The objectives of this review are to estimate pooled HIV prevalence and prevention outcomes (pre-exposure prophylaxis and antiretroviral therapy) and differences by gender identity, global regions and self-report versus lab-confirmed findings among trans adults worldwide. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will conduct a systematic review of all studies on HIV outcomes among trans youth and adults (aged 15+ years) published between 2000 and 2024, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Prereporting guidelines. We will use Covidence software for the title and abstract screening, full-text review and data abstraction processes. We will summarise the study's descriptive statistics and conduct meta-analyses of extracted data points to calculate and synthesise pooled findings and effect size. Specifically, we will use the Mantel-Haenszel method with random effects to model our meta-analyses and the DerSimonian and Laird Q test for heterogeneity testing. We will conduct a narrative synthesis on the areas of research that have been conducted to improve HIV prevention and treatment among trans populations and summarise their findings. Subgroup analyses by gender identity, global regions and self-report versus lab-confirmed findings will be conducted. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval is not applicable for this review since we will not be collecting primary data. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: The protocol is registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews database (PROSPERO ID: CRD42022357285).
Source: BMJ Open
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,839
Funders: amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, Yale University, National Institutes of Health, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Center for AIDS Research, University of Washington, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Fogarty International Center, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Awards: G1276500078, HIV risk reduction intervention for transwomen with intimate partner victimization, Developing Internet-Delivered, Mindfulness-based Intervention to Reduce HIV Risk and Promote Mental and Sexual Health among Young Adult MSM, Stigma Reduction and Gender Affirmation to Promote HIV Prevention/Testing in Trans Women, HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH TRAINING PROGRAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, Providence/Boston Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), University of Washington/Fred Hutch Center for AIDS Research, Research Education Institute for Dynamic Scholars (REIDS), Emory Training Program in Translational Research to End the HIV Epidemic
OpenAlex ID: W4406170351