Factors Influencing Condom usage among Male to Female Transgender in Chennai City

Male to Female Transgender experience economic vulnerability, lack of employment opportunities, social exclusion gender based violence and abuse. This makes them vulnerable to be one of group that are affected by HIV epidemic. Lack of education and employment forces them to take up sex work and evidence indicate that 90 % of Male to Female Transgender in India are involved in sex work and thus makes the vulnerable to HIV infection. This made it very essential to study the condom usage patter and also the factors that influence the usage. Objective Study the condom usage patter and also the factors that influence condom usage. Methodology In June 2016, 784 Male to Female Transgender enrolled in the CBO - Thozhi, 275 in Transgender Rights Association (TRA) and 282 in Tamil Nadu Aravanigal Association (THAA). A sample size of 299 was taken. As mixed method was used in depth interviews (9) and three focus group discussion (6 respondents in each group) was conducted to collect data qualitative data. Finding One fourth (25 %) of the respondents were living alone while nearly one fifth (18 %) of the respondents lived with their male sex partners. More than one forth (28 %) had sex work as their primary occupation while one third (34 %) of them had it as their secondary occupation. Out of 120 respondents who were involved in sex work only forty percent were using consistently and of the 134 respondents who had permanent male partners only forty percent of them used condoms consistently. Need for more money (69 %), influence of alcohol (63 %), Unwilling to use by law enforcers& anti-socialists (24 %), for sexual pleasure (74 %) and with good looking clients (54 %). For respondents who had permanent partners, love/scared of getting disserted/inability to use with husband was some of the responses expressed by the respondents.