Lifetime sexual violence among transgender women and travestis (TGW) in Brazil: Prevalence and associated factors

• Published in: Revista brasileira de epidemiologia Vol. 27Suppl 1; no. Suppl 1; p. e240013.supl.1
• Main Authors: Hentges, Bruna, Martins, Rafael Steffens, Silva, Jonatan da Rosa Pereira da, Hübner, Dariana Pimentel Gomes, Leal, Andréa Fachel, Teixeira, Luciana Barcellos, Knauth, Daniela Riva, Veras, Maria Amélia de Sousa Mascena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Associação Brasileira de Saúde Coletiva 2024; Associação Brasileira de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Brazil - epidemiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Original; Prevalence; PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH; Risk Factors; Sex Offenses - statistics & numerical data; Sexual violence; Social vulnerability; Sociodemographic Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Transgender Persons - psychology; Transgender Persons - statistics & numerical data; Transgender women; Young Adult; Brazil; Transgender women; Sexual violence; Social vulnerability; Vulnerabilidade social; Mulher transgênero; Violência sexual
• ISSN: 1980-5497; 1415-790X; 1980-5497
• DOI: 10.1590/1980-549720240013.supl.1

To describe the prevalence, characteristics, and factors associated with sexual violence in transgender women and travestis (TGW) in Brazil.
This cross-sectional study was conducted in five Brazilian cities (Campo Grande, Manaus, Porto Alegre, Salvador, and São Paulo) between 2019 and 2021. Participants were recruited using the respondent-driven sampling (RDS) technique. The outcome of interest is the self-reported experience of sexual violence throughout the respondents' lifetime. We evaluated the actions taken by victims of sexual violence and how they dealt with the experience. Logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the associations between sociodemographic and behavioral factors (such as race, income, drug use, sex work, and access to healthcare) and the outcome.
A total of 1,317 TGW were interviewed. Among them, 53% (n=698) reported experiencing sexual violence. For 64.4% (n=419) of the respondents, sexual violence occurred on more than one occasion. The majority of TGW did not seek health services (93.2%, n=648), disclose the violence (93.9%, n=653), nor seek support from family or friends (86.5%, n=601). A higher prevalence of sexual violence was associated with homelessness (adjusted prevalence ratio - aPR=1.69, 95% confidence interval - 95%CI 1.01-2.84), a history of engaging in sex work (aPR=2.04, 95%CI 1.46-2.85), self-reporting regular, bad, or very bad emotional health (aPR=1.67, 95%CI 1.28-2.19), and experiencing difficulties accessing health services in the previous year (aPR=2.78, 95%CI 1.74-4.43).
The high prevalence of sexual violence, analyzed together with the actions of the victims, indicates a context of high vulnerability and low institutional support. In this scenario, violence can be exacerbated, resulting in severe health consequences.