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Satisfaction and barriers in access to healthcare for transgender people in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
- Authors: Kirey-Sitnikova Y.1
- Affiliations:
- Eurasian Coalition on Health, Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversity, Tallinn, Estonia.
- Issue: No 4 (2023)
- Pages: 31-37
- Section: Articles
- URL: https://bulleten-nriph.ru/journal/article/view/3046
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.25742/NRIPH.2023.04.005
- Cite item
Abstract
Background. According to international data, transgender people frequently face inhuman treatment and low professionalism in healthcare. This study aims to assess satisfaction of transgender patients with healthcare in Eastern Europe and Central Asia in three areas: assessment for “transsexualism,” provision of hormone-replacement therapy (HRT) and gender-affirming surgeries. Materials and methods. Cross-sectional study using quantitative and qualitative methods among transgender people in Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Ukraine. Results. 56.4% respondents from Russia and 19.5% from Ukraine expressed satisfaction with diagnostics of transsexualism. Negative experiences included: incompetence of medical specialists, gender stereotypes, unpleasant questions, deadnaming and misgendering, hospitalization, corruption. The main barriers in access to HRT and surgeries were their cost, lack of competent specialists, and difficulties with obtaining the diagnosis. As a result, 41.4% respondents used HRT without consultation with an endocrinologist. Conclusion. Coverage of gender-affirming procedures by medical insurance and advanced training for doctors are necessary to improve the quality of medical care for transgender people.
About the authors
Yana Kirey-Sitnikova
Eurasian Coalition on Health, Rights, Gender and Sexual Diversity, Tallinn, Estonia.References
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