The context of drug use among transvestite sex workers

Abstract

The context of drug use is a challenge for Brazilian public health. A unique system is needed to relate it to the transvestite population, due to the vulnerability which is characteristic of this group. A project was developed which sought to identify and quantify the use and abuse of drugs by transvestite sex workers who used services available to them in a dedicated health clinic in the state of Minas Gerais. The methodology is based on searching through patient records and supported using field notes. Fifty-nine medical records were analyzed using a data collection instrument which identified: demographic characteristics of the sample, types of drugs and frequency of drug use. Data from the instrument was used to create a database from which statistics were then projected. The resulting data showed significant use of alcohol and other drugs by this population, as well as the most common types and frequency of use. Analysis of the data shows a disconnect between the diagnostic criteria of chemical dependency and the tranvestites' own self-identification regarding their health, relating use to the context of their daily lives. These results show the need for further study of the remarkable relationship between substance abuse, transmission of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, as well as violent situations and the continued presence of tranvestites on the margins of society.