L Leigh Ann van der Merwe

Biographic Data

ID6437510
NAMEL Leigh Ann van der Merwe
GIVEN NAMESL Leigh Ann
FAMILY NAMEvan der Merwe
SIGNATUREVAN DER MERWE L L A
AFFILIATIONSEmpowerment Program
ORCID0000-0003-4502-6143
VERIFIEDYes
TOTAL WORKS4
TOTAL CITATIONS1
WORKS AS AUTHOR4
WORKS AS EDITOR0
FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR2018
LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR2025
H-INDEX1

  • Social determinants of HIV status and viral load suppression among transgender women in South Africa

    Tonia Poteat, Yi Liu et al.ARTICLEAIDS Care2025

    Transgender women in South Africa face a heavy HIV burden, but data on key psychosocial and structural factors remain limited. This cross-sectional study examined associations between HIV outcomes and psychosocial (substance use, alcohol use, medical distrust, community connectedness) and structural (education, homelessness, income, sex work, violence) factors. We conducted interviewer-administered surveys with 213 transgender women in Cape Town,…

  • Engaging transgender women in HIV research in South Africa

    Open AccessL Leigh Ann van der Merwe, Allanise Cloete et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2023

    The Botshelo Ba Trans study was the first HIV bio-behavioral survey conducted with transgender women in South Africa. Engaging research with marginalized communities requires clear points of entry, reference points for understanding the internal culture, and establishing trust and understanding. The community-based participatory research approach guided the development and implementation of this study. We conducted a rapid qualitative and pre-sur…

  • The socio-economic determinants of health for transgender women in South Africa

    L Leigh Ann van der Merwe, Cheryl Nikodem et al.ARTICLEAgenda2020Cited by: 1References: 2

    Research conducted among transgender women in South Africa shows a marked tendency toward health disparities and poor access to appropriate mental, sexual and reproductive health services. Little is known about the socio-economic conditions underlying the health of transgender women in the country. A study was conducted to examine the cost of being a transgender woman in South Africa, in relation to physical, psychological, economic and social we…

  • Putting the T in LGBT

    Zaynab Essack, Natasha Van der Pol et al.CHAPTERCivil Society in the Global South2018

    South Africa presents a paradox for sexual and gender-minority civil society. While there is an enabling legal and policy environment, the lived realities for trans and gender-diverse citizens do not necessarily reflect this progressive ideal. This chapter explores the historic and contemporary forms of trans resistance and activism, unpacking how the trans movement in South Africa intersects with other social movements (e.g. #FeesMustFall). It d…