The Effectiveness of Project RESPECT in Reducing Sexual Risk Behaviors of Male-to-Female Transgender Patients

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of Project RESPECT in reducing sexual risk behaviors of male to female transgender patients. In an interventional, quasi-experimental and case-control study, 30 transgender patients (male to female) with high-risk sexual behaviors were selected and divided into two experimental and control groups. Transgender patients in experimental group received a four–session intervention conducted one session per week individually, but control group received no intervention. The instruments include demographic and Sexual Risk Behavior questionnaires. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, chi square and percent differences. Although frequency of sexual risk behaviors did not change significantly in experimental group, higher sexual risk behaviors were reduced significantly (p≤0.01). Project RESPECT is more effective in reducing higher sexual risk behaviors than frequency of sexual risk behaviors among male to female transgender patients.