Factors associated with the completion of syphilis treatment among transgender women and travestis, in five Brazilian capitals, 2019-2021: A multicenter cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: To assess the previous history of syphilis in transgender women and travestis (TWTs) and identify factors associated with treatment incompleteness. Methods: This was a multicenter cross-sectional study conducted between 2019 and 2021, with participants recruited through respondent-driven sampling, in five Brazilian capitals. Dependent variable: “reported syphilis treatment in the last year”, “no/incomplete” or “complete”. A multivariate-logistic model was used to identify factors associated with completeness. Results: Of the 1,317 participants, 16.0% reported previous history of syphilis. Of these, 68.9% were Black, 54.6% earned up to 1 minimum wage and 61.1% completed the treatment. Treatment completion was lower in São Paulo (42.7%) and among those who experienced verbal abuse (53.6%; ORa 0.46; 95%CI 0.25;0.85). Conclusion: In this sample, both the prevalence of self-reported syphilis and the proportion of participants who reported not having started/completed treatment were high. It is essential to identify the barriers faced by TWTs that hinder healthcare access, and identify their needs in order to ensure adequate diagnosis and treatment.