Knowledge，attitudes and practices related to AIDS among transgender women in Chongqing，China: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background: Transgender women (MTF) are one of the key populations for HIV prevention and control and one of the high-risk groups for lack of health services. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) about HIV and knowledge access and needs among transgender women in Chongqing, China. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2022 to August 2023, in which 128 self-identified MTF were recruited in Chongqing, China, using snowball sampling to complete a KAP-related questionnaire via Questionnaire Star. Results: For the 128 MTF effectively surveyed, the total knowledge of AIDS-related knowledge was 82.03%, with significant differences in age, education level, marital status, occupation and average monthly income (P<0.05); personal attitudes towards AIDS, with significant differences in place of domicile and education level (P<0.05), and subjective norms, with significant difference (P<0.05); there was no statistical difference between the groups of HIV-related practices. Corresponding values were assigned to knowledge, attitude and practice, and the total scores of the three aspects were 6.77±1.47 (95% CI: 3.89-9.65) (range: 0~ 8), 14.22±2.37 (95% CI: 9.57-18.87) (range: 0~ 18) and 6.66±1.79 (95% CI: 3.16-10.17) (range: 0~ 9), respectively. The main ways of acquiring HIV knowledge in MTF were "Internet/smartphone" (81.68%), "TV/radio" (49.62%), "education on HIV prevention topics in school" (48.09%); more likely to receive publicity activities "WeChat push" (58.02%), "peer education" (44.27%) and "mobile phone app management" (37.40%); and more likely to receive publicity activities "Internet/smartphone" (81.68%), "TV/radio" (49.62%) and "school education on AIDS prevention" (48.09%). "(37.40%); the points of knowledge about AIDS that need to be strengthened include "means of transmission" (71.76%) and "knowledge of voluntary counselling and testing" (67.94%), "Knowledge of the virus" (64.89%). Conclusions: There is still room for improvement in the knowledge rate of AIDS among MTF in Chongqing, China, and there is a separation between knowledge and behaviour; attitudes towards AIDS are more positive, and the awareness of prevention is stronger; pay attention to the middle-aged, low-income and low educated groups in MTF, and further strengthen health education and publicity on AIDS from the perspective of knowledge acquisition ways and needs.