INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON HIV & TRANSGENDER PEOPLE MEXICO CITY, MEXICO JULY 2019 MEETING PROSPECTUS
INTRODUCTION Dear Colleagues, It is our pleasure to announce the organization of the first Workshop focusing on the challenges met by transgender individuals living with HIV: the International Workshop on HIV & Transgender People, scheduled to take place in July 2019 in Mexico City, just prior to IAS2019. Medical and clinical information on transgender individuals and their struggles living with HIV are sparse. In most clinical studies, the transgender population is underrepresented and if included, usually misclassified as men who have sex with men (MSM). This is an enormous gap in the knowledge of health care professionals on the needs, challenges and barriers faced by individuals undergoing transgender transformation. This workshop is the first initiative to gather cross-disciplinary experts in a workshop setting to discuss the medical, clinical and social challenges faced by transgender individuals living with HIV. Through didactic lectures and sharing best practices based on real life experiences, we want to create a scientific platform for those who are actively involved in the health care of transgender individuals living with HIV. This workshop aims to reduce the knowledge gap by stimulating the cross-disciplinary exchange of information and improve the quality of life for HIV infected transgender individuals. 2
NEEDS ASSESSMENT NEEDS ASSESSMENT Transgender populations have been underrepresented in HIV epidemiologic studies and consequently in HIV prevention, care and treatment programs. Even when included, misclassification of trans feminine individuals (men expressing their feminine identity) or trans masculine individuals (female expressing their masculine identity) occurs by placing these individuals in the category of men who have sex with men (MSM) 1. HIV risk among transgender populations is much higher. Systematic review by Baral et al, showed that the odds ratio for being infected by HIV in transgender women compared with all adults was almost 50 2. HIV risk among transgender populations is driven by multilevel factors. At the biological level, higher HIV transmission probability via condomless anal sex, coinfection with perigenital or perianal STIs or hormone related vaginal atrophy due to testosterone use by trans masculine individuals. At network level, high prevalence and limited awareness of HIV status within the transgender sexual networks are important factors affecting the HIV acquisition and transmission. Stigma and discriminatory laws contribute on the community- and structural-level to a higher burden of HIV in the transgender population. These factors limited the provision and uptake of Health Care services and drive transgender women in sex work for economic survival. Although limited data is available on risk factors for transgender women 3,4, hardly any data if none is available on transgender men. As HIV becomes more and more a chronic disease, we need more information on how medical/social needs of transgender individuals might affect the management of HIV but also the management of comorbidities and DDIs This workshop aims at bringing together key international experts from different medical disciplines and from different areas of the world, to stimulate discussion and to catalyze research to improve the healthcare for transgender individuals living with HIV. 1 Global epidemiology of HIV infection and related syndemics affecting transgender people. Poteat et al. J. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 2016 Aug 15; 72 (Suppl 3) 2 Worldwide burden of HIV in transgender women; a systematic review and meta-analysis. Baral et al. www.thelancet.com/infection vol 13 March2013. 3 Correlates of HIV Infection Among Transfemales, San Francisco, 2010: Results from a Respondent-Driven Sampling Study; American Journal of Public Health (ajph) August 2013 4 Reducing HIV risk among transgender women in Thailand: A Quasi-Experimental evaluation of the Sisters Program (www.plosone.org. / October 2013\volume 8 issues 10 TARGET AUDIENCE Health Care Professionals Researchers Community representatives ESTIMATED NUMBER OF PATICIPANTS 75-100 participants TARGET REGION International FACTS & FIGURES A 2017 paper used meta-analysis and synthesized national surveys to estimate that 1 million adults in the United States are transgender. From 2009 to 2014, 2,351 transgender people were diagnosed with HIV in the United States. Eighty-four percent (1,974) were transgender women, 15% (361) were transgender men, and less than 1% (16) had another gender identity. Around half of transgender people (43% [844] of transgender women; 54% [193] of transgender men) who received an HIV diagnosis from 2009 to 2014 lived in the South. According to current estimates, around a quarter (22-28%) of transgender women are living with HIV, and more than half (an estimated 56%) of black/african American transgender women are living with HIV. source: www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/gender/transgender/index.html) 3
COMMITTEES WORLD S LEADING EXPERTS The HIV & Transgender People Workshop proudly collaborates with a large number of international and local experts in the field of Management HIV and Trangender transformation. By working together with our extensive global network of experts from various backgrounds in the field, we can ensure the design and deliver the most relevant and state-of-the-art program. ORGANIZING COMMITTEE The members of the Organizing Committee (OC) are carefully selected experts and inspirational leaders in their respective fields. They come together on a frequent basis to develop the scientific program, tailored to the needs of Healthcare professionals in the field. Furthermore, they identify clinical cases and research projects within their organizations/ network, and review and select abstracts. They actively participate as session chairs and join the Q&A sessions, discussions and debates during the meeting. Mauro Schechter, MD, PhD Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Stefan Baral, MD MPH,MBA,MSc Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, USA Charles Boucher, MD, PhD Erasmus Medical Centre, The Netherlands Nittaya Phanuphak, MD, PhD Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Centre, Thailand SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE The members of the Scientific Committee (SC) are hand-picked by the OC and the conference secretariat based on their significant contributions and commitment to the field. They assist the OC by providing them with topic and speaker suggestions. In addition, members of the SC participate in reviewing submitted abstracts, and play an active role during the workshop. As this is a new workshop, we are currently assembling the organizing and scientific committees. 4
PROGRAM WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION The struggles of the transgender populations are very diverse ranging from medical issues related to gender transition, to social behavioral issues like acceptance, stigma, and more. In addition to these struggles, infection with HIV makes their lives even harder. This workshop wants to highlight and discuss the following aspects: Medical: o Hormone replacement therapy, surgical procedures (urological issues for transgender women/gynecological issues for transgender men) Clinical: o HIV Transmission rate, drug effectivity, drug drug interactions, STI s Social: o Psychological issues, barriers to access health care systems, stigma, adherence, key-population led health services, retention to care PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The initial meeting will be organized as a one-day meeting prior to the IAS 2019 meeting in Mexico. The format of the meeting will consist of didactic lectures by international experts in the field of Transgender transformation and accompanied by HIV experts with a special focus on transgender related management. Much room will be reserved for cross-disciplinary discussion and sharing of knowledge. To stimulate the information exchange, group/panel discussions will be included. Real life data will be included in the program by abstract presentations. OBJECTIVES The meeting aims at facilitating a platform for cross-disciplinary exchange of information providing expert knowledge to the medical/clinical Health Care Professionals sharing real-life data/ best practices experience to all involved to improve the care and support for transgenders living with HIV. Program topics/sessions Setting the Scene what are the challenges Medical aspects involved in Transgender transformation Clinical aspects of having on HIV infection Social barriers for transgender individuals living with HIV EXPECTED IMPACT / OUTCOME After attending this workshop, participants will be able to recognize opportunities to improve the health care of their transgender patients, each on their own area of expertise. This includes preventing HIV transmission, tailormade approaches to reach out to those at risk, improved strategies to provide access to care, approaches to de-criminalize the position of transgender individuals, and more. 5
ASSESSMENT LEARNING ASSESSMENT METHOD To assess the meeting, Virology Education provides each delegate with a detailed feedback form to assess the speakers, whether or not the meeting objectives were met, their intent to change, the rationale behind their motivation to attend, the general logistics of the meeting, and more. All the questions are then fully analyzed and a comprehensive report is created and shared with the committee members. These reports help us to better understand our delegates needs and how to improve the meeting in the future. For a maximum response rate, we invite the chairs of each session to encourage the participants to take a few minutes and complete the feedback forms. We are also introducing a web-based application to allow participants access to the feedback forms electronically. Conference participation grants The conference participation grants (CPG) provide healthcare professionals with the opportunity to attend a conference they would otherwise be unable to attend due to financial restrictions. All applications include a CV, a motivation letter, and potentially an abstract (requirements vary depending on the workshop). These are submitted via an independent CPG portal and are evaluated against the assessment criteria using a robust, impartial and independent peer review process. This process will ensure that the most qualified candidates will receive CPGs. Accreditation We aim to submit an application for CME accreditation of this event. Partners/ Endorsers We will seek partnership and endorsement with (inter)national societies and NGOs active in the field of HIV management and transgender healthcare support The grants are supported by the financial contributions allocated by the sponsor, who has no control, influence, or involvement in the selection process of the CPG candidates whatsoever. Priority is given to applicants who have actively participated in original research or scientific work that is being presented at the meeting and/or those who will profit most from participating in order to improve their daily clinical management. These grants help defray costs for registration, travel and accommodation for delegates and foster their ability to form valuable professional networks and develop vital collaborations. Conference participation grant applications will be solicited, selected and awarded by an expert Grant Review Committee. Please note that the TITANIUM, PLATINUM and GOLD support levels will reduce the costs for conference participation grants. 6
ENDURING MATERIALS INFECTIOUS DISEASES ONLINE Enduring information presented at the conference will be freely accessible and widely disseminated to reach thousands of virtual participants beyond the walls of the conference center. Infectious Diseases Online is a premier online platform offering scientific materials in special topical areas and proceedings of conferences. All the content on Infectious Diseases Online is organized by workshop and date, making it easy to find. Visitors of the website will have full access to: Abstract Books Meeting Reports Workshop Presentations Webcasts 7
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