Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Associated Risk Factors Among Transgenders in Peshawar

Background:  Transgenders, male to female, are exceptionally predominant in India-Pakistan, dreaded to be alarming for sexually transmitted diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of sexually transmitted diseases and their associated risk factors among transgenders. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted amongst transgenders at Institute of Paramedical Sciences (IPMS), Khyber Medical University Peshawar from January to July,2021. About two ml of venous blood was collected in a gel tube under aseptic conditions among 100 individuals to check for HBsAg, anti-HCV, HIV and syphilis by ICT rapid strip method. Positive samples of HBsAg and anti-HCV were confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), while positive cases of syphilis were confirmed by Treponema Pallidum Hemagglutination (TPHA). Chi-square test was applied to determine the association between sexually transmitted disease and associated risk factors.  Results: Out of 100, seven (7%) samples were positive for HBsAg, five (5%) for anti-HCV and nine (9%) were positive for syphilis while there were no positive cases of HIV. HBV infection was significantly associated with blood transfusion, a drug injection history and some surgical procedure (p<0.05). For syphilis, the data were significantly associated with a history of blood transfusion and drug injection (p<0.05). Conclusion: Frequency of HBV, HCV and syphilis infections are high in transgenders with common associated risk factors to be sexual activities, drug injection, unsafe blood transfusion and surgical procedures. Keywords:  Chromatography,  Hepatitis B surface antigen, Hepatitis C Antibodies, HIV, Syphilis, Transgenders