Barriers to quality healthcare among transgender and gender nonconforming adults

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the barriers transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) adults face when accessing or receiving healthcare in the United States. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING: Primary data were collected between September 2022 and March 2023 from a purposive sample of TGNC adults (N = 116 participants) using an online survey with a series of open-ended and closed-ended questions. STUDY DESIGN: Thematic analysis was employed to extract and analyze participants' responses to an open-ended question about challenges they experienced when accessing or receiving healthcare. Two members of the research team conducted qualitative data analyses using Dedoose. The quality of each analysis was subsequently reviewed by a third research team member. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: Data were collected from responses to one open-ended question that asked about participants' healthcare barriers as a TGNC individual. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Five main themes surrounding healthcare barriers emerged from the content analysis: (1) acceptability, (2) accommodation, (3) affordability, (4) availability, and (5) accessibility. First, participants who noted acceptability issues reported explicit discriminatory treatment from providers, providers not using their chosen names and pronouns (e.g., misgendering), and provider refusal to provide gender-affirming care. Second, participants who experienced accommodation challenges identified provider medical training gaps on TGNC patient needs and administrative barriers to care. Third, participants explained affordability issues due to a lack of adequate health insurance coverage. Fourth, participants described availability challenges with accessing hormone therapy prescriptions. Finally, participants noted accessibility issues with obtaining TGNC-specific care at LGBTQ+-affirming clinics. CONCLUSIONS: There is a growing interest in the needs of TGNC adults within healthcare settings. This requires that health policies are enacted to ensure that TGNC adults have access to healthcare that is accommodating and accepting/affirming. Study findings may provide insight into the potential impact of current legislation on transgender access and availability.

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