Methods: Data were from two needs assessment studies of transgender people. Snowball sampling was used to recruit respondents.  Face-to-face structured interviews were conducted by transgender interviewers. Adapting the Health Belief Model as the conceptual framework, logistic regression was used to conduct the analysis.  Missing data were handled by multiple imputation.  Risk for HIV was measured by whether or not respondents used protection the last time they had sex and whether or not respondents engaged in high risk sexual activity during the past three months.

Results: There were 184 people in the sample; 66% were MTF and 34% were FTM.  About half (48%) were African American and 26% were Caucasian.  Forty-eight percent reported not using protection the last time they had sex and 64% engaged in recent high risk sexual activities.  Preliminary results showed that FTMs were at significantly higher risk for HIV than MTFs, even after controlling for demographic, attitude, belief and knowledge variables. Compared to MTFs, the odds of FTMs' using protection the last time they had sex were15 percent and FTMs were 9 times more likely than MTFs to have recently engaged in high risk sexual activities.

Implications for practice: Findings indicate that FTMs are engaging in high risk sexual activity that could put them at risk for HIV and other STDs.  FTMs in health and social service settings should be informed about HIV transmission routes and counseled on safe-sex practices.