Vocal Approach to Transgender Individuals: The Journey Taken in Chile and Argentina

In recent years, there have been international references to the vocal approach for the specific group of transgender individuals, although the Latin American literature is still very timid on this matter. The purpose of this article is to identify the current norms, statistics, and vocal approach towards transgender individuals in Chile and Argentina, considering the experience of two speech and language pathologists with more than twenty years of experience on voice therapy. Reflections were made on the transgender reality in these countries, the limitations in the implementation of the depathologization of the transgender group were outlined, some current and unreliable statistics were presented, some innovative actions in the public system were highlighted, and the lack of knowledge about the benefits of vocal work for transgender men and women was discussed. The identified aspects could benefit from multicenter research that strengthens speech therapy actions with this group, contributing to depathologization and positive approach.

Desde los últimos años es posible encontrar referencias internacionales sobre el abordaje vocal al grupo específico de las personas transgénero, aunque la literatura latinoamericana sigue muy tímida en este asunto. La propuesta de este artículo es identificar las normas vigentes, estadísticas y abordaje vocal hacia las personas transgénero en Chile y Argentina, considerando la experiencia de dos fonoaudiólogas con más de veinte años de experiencia en terapia vocal. Se hicieron reflexiones sobre la realidad transgénero en los países citados, se delinearon las limitaciones en la puesta en práctica de la despatologización del grupo transgénero, se expusieron algunas estadísticas -vigentes y poco confiables-, se plasmaron algunas acciones novedosas en el sistema público y el desconocimiento sobre los beneficios del trabajo vocal en hombres y mujeres transgénero. Los aspectos detectados podrían beneficiarse de investigaciones multicéntricas que fortalezcan acciones fonoaudiológicas con este grupo, contribuyendo a la despatologización y el abordaje positivo.

Social and structural drivers of HIV vulnerability among a respondent-driven sample of feminine and non-feminine presenting transgender women who have sex with men in Zimbabwe.

INTRODUCTION: We sought to characterize social and structural drivers of HIV vulnerability for transgender women (TGW) in Zimbabwe, where TGW are not legally recognized, and explore differences in vulnerability by feminine presentation. METHODS: A secondary analysis was conducted with a sub-sample of participants recruited from a 2019 respondent-driven sampling survey that comprised men who have sex with men, TGW and genderqueer individuals assigned male sex at birth, from two cities in Zimbabwe. Survey questionnaires captured information related to socio-demographics, sexual and substance use behaviours, and social and structural barriers to HIV services. Secondary analyses were restricted to participants who identified as female, transfemale or transwomen (236/1538) and were unweighted. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate sample estimates and chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to assess differences in vulnerability by feminine presentation. RESULTS: Among 236 TGW, almost half (45.3%) presented as feminine in the 6 months preceding the survey and 8.5% had ever used hormones to affirm their gender identities. Median age among TGW was 23 years (interquartile range: 20-26). Feminine presenting TGW in our sample had higher prevalence of arrest (15.9% vs. 3.9%), rejection by family/friends (38.3% vs. 14.0%), employment termination (11.2% vs. 3.9%), employment refusal (14.0% vs. 3.9%), denial of healthcare (16.8% vs. 2.3%), physical, sexual or verbal harassment or abuse (59.8% vs. 34.1%), alcohol dependence (32.7% vs. 12.4%), recent transactional sex with a male or TGW partner (30.8% vs. 13.3%) and recent non-injection drug use (38.3% vs. 20.2%) than non-feminine presenting TGW (all p-value <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that TGW, particularly feminine presenting TGW, experience social and structural inequities which may contribute to HIV vulnerability. Interventions aimed at addressing inequities, including trans competency training for providers and gender-affirming, psychosocial and legal support services for TGW, might mitigate risk.

Perceptual-Auditory and Acoustic Analysis of Breathiness in Cis and Transgender Men and Women.

OBJECTIVE: To verify breathiness in the cisgender and transgender men and women's voices, compare values of acoustic and perceptual indicators of breathiness and fundamental frequency (f0) between groups, and compare them between the voices attributed as female and male. STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional retrospective study. METHODS: The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee (4,937,140). Sustained vowel /a/ and continuous speech recordings of 21 cisgender men (CISM), 31 transgender men (TM), 32 cisgender women (CISW), and 31 transgender women (TW) were analyzed. Three judges conducted a perceptive-auditory analysis regarding the degree breathiness, using a visual analog scale, and attributed gender (female or male). The ABI (Acoustic Breathiness Index) was extracted using the PRAAT software (6.1.16). The f0, Harmonic-Noise Ratio (HNR), Voice Turbulence Index (VTI), and Soft Phonation Index (SPI) were analyzed using the Multi-Dimensional Voice Program (KayPentax). RESULTS: The ABI value for CISM was lower than for TM and CISW. CISW had a higher f0 than; TM had a higher f0 than CISM; and TW had a higher f0 than CISM. The groups did not differ for HNR and VTI. Regarding the SPI, CISM had higher values than CISW. Regarding the auditory perception, TM presented more intense breathiness than CISM in the vowel. Regarding gender attribution by voice, the voices CISM and CISW were 100% identified as male and female. On the other hand, in the vowel analysis, 45.2% of the TM voices were perceived as female, and 59.4% of TW voices as male. CONCLUSION: Breathiness occurs differently between groups and the voices perceived as male and female. Even when TM is submitted to the use of testosterone and undergoes vocal changes, the transglottal airflow remains, which is a female characteristic of phonation.

Masculinizing Mammoplasty for Female-to-Male Transgenders: 10 Years' Experience.

BACKGROUND: Masculinizing mammoplasty is a surgical procedure frequently performed in transmale individuals. Despite providing a positive impact for the patient, this surgery has high rates of complications and revisions. In cases requiring a double incision, there are advantages in using an inferior pedicle when possible. METHODS: This was an observational study. Outcomes and complications were analyzed in 104 patients operated on by the author using three techniques: concentric periareolar surgery, double incision with an areola graft, and double incision with an inferior areolar pedicle. The Breast-Q questionnaire adapted for transgender males was applied. RESULTS: The responses of the adapted Breast-Q questionnaires demonstrated high scores regarding quality of life and satisfaction. The rates of complications and surgical revisions were 24.3 and 25.6%, respectively, with no significant difference between the techniques. The most common complication was hematoma (13.6%), which was positively associated with the use of testosterone. Ischemia of the nipple-areola complex was present in 8.7% of the operated breasts. When using the inferior pedicle, areola ischemia occurred more often when the nipple-fold distance was greater than 8 cm. CONCLUSIONS: Quality of life, satisfaction, complications, and revisions were comparable to those observed in the literature. Hematoma was the most frequent complication, and an association with the use of testosterone was observed. When a double incision is indicated, the inferior pedicle is more advantageous than the areola graft; however, it should be used when the distance between the nipple and the inframammary fold is 8 cm or less. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Adaptação transcultural para o português Brasileiro do Vocal Congruence Scale e Transgender Congruence Scale / Cross-cultural adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese of the Vocal Congruence Scale and Transgender Congruence Scale

RESUMO Objetivo realizar a adaptação transcultural dos instrumentos Vocal Congruence Scale (VCS) e o Transgender Scale Congruence (TSC) para o português brasileiro. Método o estudo foi desenvolvido em duas etapas: adaptação transcultural e pré-teste. 1. Adaptação transcultural: foi composta por uma equipe de dois fonoaudiólogos e dois não-fonoaudiólogos, sendo responsáveis pela tradução para o português (um fonoaudiólogo e um não-fonoaudiólogo nativos do português brasileiro - PB e falantes do inglês), de modo independente, com posterior consenso realizado pelos pesquisadores; retrotradução para o inglês (um fonoaudiólogo e um não-fonoaudiólogo nativos do inglês e falantes do PB); análise da versão final por um comitê (um tradutor, um metodologista, e três fonoaudiólogos). 2. Etapa de pré-teste: os instrumentos foram aplicados em 38 indivíduos transgêneros (29 mulheres trans, 2 travestis e 7 homens trans), sendo acrescido na chave de resposta a opção "não aplicável". Os dados foram analisados de forma descritiva e inferencial. Resultados No processo de adaptação transcultural do VCS houve ajustes em cinco itens do questionário, quatro deles quanto à forma e um quanto ao conteúdo. Para o TSC também foram necessários ajustes quanto a forma em cinco itens. No pré-teste, para todos os itens dos instrumentos, a opção não aplicável apresentou proporção significativamente menor que as opções da chave de resposta dos instrumentos. Por fim, foi obtida uma versão traduzida e adaptada para o português dos dois instrumentos. Conclusão Os instrumentos foram transculturalmente adaptados para o português brasileiro e nomeados como Escala de Congruência Vocal e Escala de Congruência da Pessoa Transgênero.

ABSTRACT Purpose to carry out the cross-cultural adaptation of the Vocal Congruence Scale (VCS) and the Transgender Scale Congruence (TSC) instruments into Brazilian Portuguese. Methods the study was developed in two stages: cross-cultural adaptation and pre-test. 1. Cross-cultural adaptation: it was composed of a team of two speech therapists and two non-speech therapists, being responsible for the translation of the instruments into Portuguese (a speech therapist and a non-speech therapist native to Brazilian Portuguese - BP and English speakers, independently, with subsequent consensus achieved by the researchers; back-translation of the instruments into English (a speech therapist and a non-speech therapist who are native speakers of English and speakers of BP); analysis of the final version by a committee (a translator, a methodologist, and three speech therapists). Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially. Results In the cross-cultural adaptation process of the VCS there were adjustments in five items of the questionnaire, four of them in terms of form and one in terms of content. necessary adjustments regarding form in five items. In the pre-test, for all VCS and TSC items, the non-applicable option had a significantly lower proportion than the instrument response key options (p<0.001, for all). Finally, a translated and adapted version for Brazilian Portuguese of the Vocal Congruence Scale (VCS) and the Transgender Scale Congruence (TSC) instruments was obtained. Conclusion The VCS and TSC were transculturally adapted to Brazilian Portuguese and named as Vocal Congruence Scale and Transgender Person Congruence Scale.

"Aquende a neca e aperte os seios": inteligibilidade, trabalho e saúde nas experiências de pessoas trans universitárias / "Tuck the girldick and bind the breasts:" intelligibility, work, and health in the experiences of university trans people

Resumo As pessoas trans estão expostas a diferentes situações de vulnerabilidade que se entrecruzam, causando impactos negativos no processo saúde-doença-cuidado. Para melhor compreender essa questão, buscamos conhecer as experiências de sete estudantes trans de uma universidade pública de Minas Gerais, a partir de entrevistas norteadas por roteiro semiestruturado. As falas foram analisadas pela perspectiva da análise de conteúdo, e as categorias finais foram tensionadas com estudos das ciências sociais e da saúde coletiva. De forma geral, as narrativas se diferenciaram daquelas que compõem a maioria das pesquisas sobre o tema no Brasil, sobretudo em relação à manutenção de vínculos familiares e ao acesso à universidade pública. Nesse sentido, formulamos a hipótese de que a interação desses elementos com outros marcadores de diferenças pode contribuir positivamente para o estabelecimento de alianças e estratégias, a fim de lidar com o regime de inteligibilidade das identidades de gênero e com as dificuldades de acesso à educação, ao trabalho e à saúde. Compreender essa dinâmica e suas limitações, em uma perspectiva em que o individual se enlaça ao coletivo, possibilitou evidenciar o funcionamento da (hétero)normatividade nos processos de segregação de pessoas trans, assim como refletir sobre ações políticas que possam transformar essa realidade social efetivamente.

Abstract Transgender people are exposed to different situations of vulnerability that intersect, having negative impacts on the health-illness-care process. To better understand this issue, we sought to know the experiences of seven transgender undergraduates at a public university in Minas Gerais, from semi-structured interviews. The narratives were analyzed on the perspective of content analysis, and the final categories juxtaposed with studies of social sciences and public health. In general, the narratives are different from those which account for most of the research on the theme in Brazil, especially regarding maintaining family bonds and the access to public universities. Hence, we formulated the hypothesis that the interaction between these elements and other markers of differences can positively contribute to establishing alliances and strategies to deal with the regime of gender identity intelligibility and the constraints of access to education, work, and health. Understanding these dynamics and their limitations, under the perspective in which the individual and the collective are intertwined, enabled us to highlight the role of (hetero)normativity in the segregation processes of transgender people, as well as reflecting on the political actions that might effectively transform this social reality.

Relationship between Smoking and Vocal Self-perception of Trans Women

Objective: To verify the relationship between smoking, age, schooling, and the vocal self-perception of trans women. Methods: Cross-sectional observational quantitative study conducted with 24 trans women over 18 years old, living in their affirmed gender for a minimum of 6 months. Data collection involved selected questions from the translated and authorized Portuguese version of the Trans Woman Voice Questionnaire (TWVQ) and information regarding age, education, occupation, and smoking status. All variables were analyzed descriptively, and the association with smoking was assessed using Pearson's Chi-square, Fisher's Exact, Student's T, and Mann-Whitney tests, with a significance level of 5%. Results: The mean age of trans women was 28.2 +/- 6.5 years (range: 21 - 48). Most participants (41.6%) had completed their high school education and pursued diverse careers. Regarding smoking habits, 58.3% of women were either current smokers or had smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime. A statistically significant association was found between smoking and age (p = 0.001), with smokers having a lower average age (24.9 years) compared to nonsmokers (32.9 years). However, no statistical significance was observed between smoking, education, and self-perception of vocal femininity. Only 9 (37.5%) trans women perceived their voices as feminine, while 17 (70.7%) desired a more feminine-sounding voice. Limitation: The limited sample size in this study may have constrained the ability to detect significant differences between the analyzed groups using statistical tests. Conclusion: The smoking prevalence was notably high among younger trans women. However, there was no statistically significant difference in vocal self-perception between those who smoked and those who did not. The majority of trans women expressed a desire for their voices to sound more feminine, particularly among smokers.

Objetivo: Verificar la relación entre el tabaquismo, edad, escolaridad y la autopercepción vocal de mujeres trans. Métodos: Estudio observacional transversal cuantitativo realizado con 24 mujeres trans mayores de 18 años, que viven en su género afirmado durante 6 meses. Para la recolección de datos se utilizaron preguntas seleccionadas de la versión portuguesa traducida y autorizada del Trans Woman Voice Questionnaire (TWVQ) y datos sobre edad, educación, ocupación y tabaquismo. Todas las variables se analizaron descriptivamente y la asociación con el tabaquismo se realizó mediante las pruebas Chi-cuadrado de Pearson, Exacta de Fisher, T de Student y Mann Whitney, con un nivel de significación del 5%. Resultados: La edad promedio de las mujeres trans fue de 28,2 +/- 6,5 (rango 21 - 48). La mayoría de las participantes (41,6%) había terminado la escuela secundaria con carreras muy diversas. Respecto al tabaquismo, el 58,3% de las mujeres fuman actualmente o han fumado al menos 100 cigarrillos en su vida. Hubo una asociación estadísticamente significativa entre el tabaquismo y la edad (p = 0,001), en la que la edad promedio entre los fumadores (24,9 años) fue menor que la de los no fumadores (32,9 años). No hubo significación estadística entre el tabaquismo, la educación y la autopercepción vocal. Solo 9 (37,5%) mujeres trans actualmente consideran su voz femenina y 17 (70,7%) dijeron que la voz ideal podría sonar más femenina. Limitación: La pequeña casuística puede haber limitado la identificación de diferencias entre los grupos analizados a través de pruebas estadísticas. Conclusión: El tabaquismo fue alto entre las mujeres trans, especialmente las más jóvenes. La autopercepción vocal no fue estadísticamente diferente entre los grupos de fumadores y no fumadores. La mayoría de las mujeres trans dijeron que sus voces podrían sonar más femeninas, especialmente las fumadoras.

Particularities of physical training and control of risk factors in the transgender and gender-diverse population.

The transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) population holds significant relevance concerning exercise and sports practices. Specific challenges are highlighted, such as physical inactivity driven by internal and external reasons, including discrimination in sports environments. Psychological aspects and hormonal therapy effects create implications for hindering participation in sports competitions. Disparities in cardiovascular risk factors are also mentioned, emphasizing the need for inclusive sports policies based on scientific evidence. The article underscores the importance of addressing social, psychological, and medical aspects to promote the physical and mental health of the TGD population, particularly in the professional sports area.

La población trans y de género diverso (TGD) tiene una gran relevancia en relación con la práctica de ejercicio y deporte. Se destacan desafíos específicos, como la inactividad física motivada por razones internas y externas, incluida la discriminación en entornos deportivos. Existen aspectos psicológicos y efectos de la terapia hormonal que generan implicaciones para la dificultar participación en competiciones deportivas. También se menciona la disparidad en los factores de riesgo cardiovascular y se plantea la necesidad de políticas deportivas inclusivas basadas en evidencia científica. El artículo enfatiza la importancia de abordar los aspectos sociales, psicológicos y médicos para promover la salud física y mental de la población TGD, especialmente en el ámbito deportivo profesional.

A Review of Patient Experiences and Provider Education to Improve Transgender Health Inequities in the USA.

Transgender individuals are an underserved, vulnerable population. They face many inequities including barriers in both accessing and receiving adequate healthcare. These inequities are proposed here to be rooted in a lack of education about transgender people and their experiences. We begin by exploring the existing transgender healthcare research carried out in the USA, examining client experiences, provider education and attitudes, and the barriers transgender people face to obtaining proper healthcare. Secondly, we look at the previous research on educational interventions implemented with medical students and practitioners in the USA to enhance knowledge about transgender people, and increase sensitivity and awareness, while also increasing the level of comfort in working with these clients. The limitations in these fields of study are discussed in order to understand how to better serve transgender clients in the USA. We will do this through a narrative review to determine evidence-based best practices for educational intervention, uncovering gaps in the literature and highlighting where to focus in future work for researchers and practitioners.

Exploring Work Absences and Return to Work During Social Transition and Following Gender-Affirming Care, a Mixed-Methods Approach: 'Bridging Support Actors Through Literacy'.

PURPOSE: Research on return to work (RTW) following transition-related gender-affirming care (GAC) is lacking. We aim to study the RTW outcomes and experiences of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people during social and medical transition to understand their needs better and provide tailored support. METHODS: In this convergent mixed-methods study, the questionnaires of 125 employed TGD people, who took steps in transition (social and GAC), were analyzed for personal- and work characteristics, medical work absences, RTW, support at work, and health literacy. In-depth interviews were held with twenty TGD people to explore perceived facilitators and barriers to RTW. RESULTS: One hundred and nine participants reported an average of 38 sick days after GAC. The majority (90.2%) resumed their job at the same employer. Although TGD workers felt supported, their health literacy (55.1%) was lower compared to the general population. The qualitative data analysis revealed four major themes: (1) the need and access to information; (2) having multidisciplinary TGD allies; (3) the influence of the occupational position; (4) the precarious balance between work, life, and GAC. Especially participants with a low health literacy level experienced RTW barriers by struggling: (1) to find and/or apply information; (2) to navigate (occupational) health and insurance services. CONCLUSION: Our research has shown that RTW for TGD individuals is a multifaceted process, affected by personal factors, work-related elements, and the characteristics of the healthcare and social insurance system. Enhancing support for TGD people at work and their RTW requires a high need for centralized information and promoting health literacy while engaging relevant stakeholders, such as prevention services and employers.

An Exploratory Study to Describe Transgender People with HIV Who Accessed Medicaid and Their Viral Suppression Over Time in New York City, 2013-2017.

Purpose: Although HIV surveillance contains information on HIV outcomes among transgender persons with HIV (TPWH), it does not include other important data, for example, gender-affirming health care, which may influence viral suppression (VS). We describe TPWH accessing Medicaid and the association of gender-affirming surgery with VS. Methods: Through matching Medicaid claims with HIV registry data, a cohort of previously identified TPWH in Medicaid was compared to cisgender women and men in terms of VS in 2013-2017 in New York City. Medicaid claims were used to identify TPWH who obtained gender-affirming surgery (e.g., chest, genital surgeries). We described the VS of those who had surgery and examined temporal trends in VS pre- and postsurgery and by surgery type. Results: 1730 TPWH were enrolled in Medicaid and in HIV care in 2013-2017. Overall for VS at last laboratory, TPWH in Medicaid had lower VS (76.0%) than cisgender women (80.4%) and men (83.3%). The exception was the 185 TPWH who obtained gender-affirming surgery (86.5%). Among 160 TPWH in Medicaid who obtained gender-affirming surgery and achieved VS, VS increased presurgery (66.3% 2 years prior, 76.9% 1 year prior) and remained high 1 year after (86.3%) and 2 years after (87.7%) (the last percentage is only among those who had surgery before 2017, N=81). Conclusion: Gender-affirming surgery may be an important motivator to becoming virally suppressed and was associated with sustained high VS, which can lead to improved survival and quality of life. Medicaid and other insurers should consider improving access to gender-affirming surgery among TPWH.

Estimating prevalence and modelling correlates of HIV test positivity among female sex workers, men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, transgender people and prison inmates in Sierra Leone, 2021.

Key populations (KPs) are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection and efforts to prevent HIV infections among KPs have been less successful, largely due to existing laws and legislation that classify the groups as illegal. Understanding the HIV infection pathway and the burden of HIV infection among Female Sex Workers (FSWs), Transgender people (TG), Men who have sex with Men (MSM), People who Inject Drugs (PWID), and Prison Inmates (PIs) is critical to combatting the HIV epidemic globally. This study aims to estimate HIV prevalence and model the risk factors of HIV positivity rate among the aforementioned KPs in Sierra Leone. This study used Time Location Sampling, Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS), and Conventional cluster Sampling designs to generate a representative sample of FSWs, MSM, TG, PI, and PWID. HIV prevalence and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals among each KP were estimated by adjusting for sampling weight using the logit-transformed confidence intervals. To determine correlates of HIV test positivity among KPs, a multivariable modified Poisson regression model that adjusts for RDS survey weights was used and sensitivity analysis was conducted using a multivariable logistic regression model with cluster robust standard errors. The prevalence of HIV among FSWs in the six regional headquarter towns was estimated to be 11.8% (95% CI: 7.9-17.1); MSM was 3.4% [95% CI: 1.9-5.8]; TGs was 4.2% (95% CI: 2.9-6.1); PWIDs was 4.2% (95% CI: 2.7-6.4) and PI was 3.7% (95% CI: 1.4-9.6). The correlates of HIV test positivity among KPs and PIs include HIV-related knowledge, marital status, district, income, age and sex of KP, level of education, alcohol intake, injecting drugs, and use of lubricants. HIV prevalence is relatively high among FSWs, MSMs, PWID, and TGs as compared to the previous estimate of the general population. There is a need to scale up and strengthen evidence-based HIV prevention interventions such Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis and needle and syringe exchange programmes targeting KPs, including prison inmates. Government must scale up both non-clinical and clinical routine HIV and STI testing and counseling services at the correctional center and drop-in centers for KPs screening/testing, and ensure that services are responsive to the needs of KP.

'The medical world is very good at cis people, but trans is a specialisation'. Experiences of transgender and non-binary people with accessing primary sexual and reproductive healthcare services in the Netherlands.

Transgender and non-binary (TNB) people are at increased risk of adverse sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes compared to cisgender people. With this qualitative study, we investigated the experiences of TNB people with access to primary SRH care in the Netherlands. We conducted semi-structured, explorative interviews with fourteen TNB individuals. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. We identified three themes: 'navigating cisgender assumptions', 'depending on your healthcare provider' and 'access requires labour'. In primary SRH care, respondents felt that healthcare providers made incorrect assumptions about their care needs which required respondents to actively disclose their gender identity or medical history. However, some respondents felt disclosure also exposed them to clinical bias, or reduced them to a medical category 'transgender' that their healthcare providers perceived to require specialised knowledge. In this context, respondents felt the onus was on them to ensure their SRH care needs were met. Using the concept of trans erasure, we highlight how TNB people are put at risk of adverse SRH outcomes. Creating equitable care access requires not only that providers are educated on TNB health needs and their own cisnormativity, but also an ongoing, critical reflection on the use of gender- and sex-based categories in medicine.

Mental health, minority stress and discrimination against transgender people: a cross-sectional survey in Russia.

Mental health needs of transgender people in Russia remain unmet and stigmatised as in many other countries around the globe. The aim of this study was to assess the stressors and perceived need for mental health care among transgender people in Russia. A structured online survey was conducted in November 2019. A total of 588 transgender adults (mean age: 24.0 ± 6.7) was included in the final analysis. An overwhelming majority of respondents (95.1%) reported stress in their lives. Financial burden (73.5%), relationships with relatives (59.4%), and intimate relationships (37.9%) were among the most frequently reported sources of stress. Most of respondents (71.8%) indicated that the psychological distress they perceived interfered with their ability to lead a fulfilling social life. More than half of the respondents (52.4%) had visited a mental health professional prior to their gender transition. Virtually half of them (49%) reported problems related to seeking mental healthcare attributed to stigma. Over one third (37.8%) reported taking non-prescription or off-label medications to improve their well-being or mood. Our study confirmed high rates of psychiatric problems in this vulnerable group and problems in help-seeking. The article also discusses the challenges of providing psychiatric care to transgender people in Russia.

Community-based HIV prevention services for transgender people in Ukraine: current situation and potential for improvement.

BACKGROUND: Community-based HIV-prevention services are a key approach to prevent HIV transmission among key population representatives. Transgender people have multiple specific needs and it is crucial to use prevention approaches that effectively respond to those needs and facilitate barriers on the way to use HIV prevention and related services. This study is aimed to explore the current state of community-based HIV prevention services among transgender people in Ukraine, its limitations and potential for improvement based on the experience and perceptions of transgender people, physicians, and community social workers providing services to transgender people. METHODS: Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted among physicians providing services to transgender people (N = 10), community social workers (N = 6), and transgender people (N = 30). The objectives of the interviews were to explore: the relevance of the community-based HIV prevention services to the needs of transgender people; the key components of the most preferred ("ideal") HIV-prevention package for transgender people; ways to optimize the existing HIV prevention package for transgender people including enrollment and retention. Systematically collected data were analyzed and coded into the main domains, thematic categories and subcategories using thematic analysis. RESULTS: The current HIV prevention programs were well-evaluated by the majority of respondents. Gender-affirming care was found to be the key need of transgender people. Integration of HIV prevention services and gender-affirming care was perceived as the main way to address the needs of transgender people. Internet-based and peer word-of-mouth recruitment may improve enrollment in services. Optimization of existing HIV prevention package may include: psychological counseling, referral and navigation to medical services, legal services, pre- and post-exposure prevention, dissemination of tube lubricants, femidoms and latex wipes, use of oral fluid test systems for HIV self-testing. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest potential solutions to improve community-based HIV prevention services for transgender people by introducing a transgender people -oriented package, which integrates gender transition, HIV prevention and other services. Provision of prevention services based on assessed risk and referral/navigation to related services are the key options for optimization of the existing HIV prevention package. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

Assistência ginecológica aos transgênero / Gynecological care for transgenders

Transgênero (trans) é um termo que alberga toda a diversidade de gênero. A incongruência de gênero faz parte desse espectro e refere-se à pessoa cuja identidade de gênero é oposta ao sexo que lhe foi atribuído no nascimento. A terapia hormonal de afirmação de gênero, bem como a cirurgia de afirmação de gênero, é necessária para adequar o corpo ao gênero ao qual a pessoa se identifica. Os homens trans necessitam da terapia com testosterona, que visa reduzir as concentrações de estradiol e incrementar a testosterona circulante para níveis fisiológicos masculinos, resultando em masculinização. A mulher trans receberá o estradiol, associado ou não a um antiandrogênico, visando reduzir a testosterona e incrementar o estrogênio para níveis femininos, resultando em feminização. A cirurgia de afirmação de gênero é, frequentemente, requerida para completar as modificações fenotípicas para o homem e a mulher trans. O ginecologista e obstetra tem um papel crucial no provimento de cuidados a essa população. O presente artigo visa sistematizar algumas ações que o ginecologista e obstetra pode oferecer e que têm potencial para melhorar a qualidade de vida dos homens e mulheres trans. (AU)

Transgenero (trans) is an umbrella term that encompasses all gender diversity. Gender Incongruity is part of this spectrum and refers to the person whose gender identity is opposed to the sex assigned to them at birth. Gender-affirming hormone therapy as well as gender-affirming surgery are necessary to adapt the body to the gender to which the person identifies. Trans men require testosterone therapy to reduce estradiol concentrations and increase circulating testosterone to male physiological levels resulting in masculinization. Trans women will receive estradiol associated or not with an antiandrogenic to reduce testosterone and increase estrogen to female levels resulting in feminization. gender-affirming surgery is often required to complete phenotypic modifications for trans men and women. The gynecologist and obstetrician plays a crucial role in to provide care to this population. This article aims to systematize some actions that the gynecologist and obstetrician can offer to improve the quality of life of trans men and women. (AU)

Obstáculos identificados por las personas trans en la accesibilidad a los consultorios inclusivos en la provincia de Buenos Aires / Barriers to access inclusive healthcare services identified by transgender people in Buenos Aires province

RESUMEN INTRODUCCIÓN El acceso a la salud para las personas trans ha sido históricamente obstaculizado por el estigma y la discriminación institucional. A pesar de los avances legales y sociales en materia de reconocimiento de derechos de los últimos años, todavía se identifican barreras para su efectivo cumplimiento. Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo describir las principales barreras en la accesibilidad a los consultorios inclusivos (CI) y analizar las necesidades específicas de la población trans que se atiende en la provincia de Buenos Aires (PBA). MÉTODOS Se presenta un subanálisis de un estudio cualitativo más amplio realizado en 2017, cuyo objetivo fue relevar información sobre demandas sanitarias, accesibilidad y calidad de atención de los servicios de salud específicos para población de lesbianas, gays, bisexuales y trans (LGBT) en ocho efectores de la PBA. La muestra fue intencional, conformada por 29 entrevistas semiestructuradas a referentes y profesionales y 2 grupos focales con masculinidades y feminidades trans, respectivamente. Se realizó un análisis temático. RESULTADOS Se identificaron barreras organizacionales y simbólicas, sobre todo en los CI que funcionan en hospitales. Entre las simbólicas, se evidencia la persistencia de prácticas patologizantes en salud mental. DISCUSIÓN Los CI brindan una respuesta satisfactoria, pero transitoria. Es necesario transversalizar la perspectiva de género a todas las intervenciones en salud.

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Access to health for trans people has historically been hampered by institutional stigma and discrimination. Despite the legal and social advances achieved in recent years in terms of recognition of rights, barriers to effective enforcement are still identified. The objective of this work was to describe the main barriers to access inclusive healthcare services and analyze the specific needs of trans people receiving healthcare in the province of Buenos Aires (PBA). METHODS A subanalysis of a wider qualitative study conducted in 2017 is presented, its objective was to collect information on healthcare needs, accessibility and quality of care of health services specific for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) population in eight healthcare providers of PBA. The sample was intentional, including 29 semi-structured interviews to social organization leaders and professionals, and 2 focus groups with trans masculinities and femininities, respectively. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS Organizational and symbolic barriers were identified, especially in inclusive healthcare services functioning in hospitals. One of the symbolic ones was the persistence of pathologizing practices in mental healthcare. DISCUSSION Inclusive healthcare services provide a satisfactory, but temporary response. It is necessary to adopt a cross-cutting gender perspective for all healthcare interventions.

Are transgender people satisfied with their lives?

BACKGROUND: Our goal was to examine the proportion of transgender people satisfied with their lives (i.e., cognitive evaluation of life as a whole) and the determinants of life satisfaction level among transgender individuals. METHODS: Data were taken from the HH-TPCHIGV study. Included were 104 transgender people who had joined self-help groups to get and share information about the gender-affirming surgeries performed at the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. The established Satisfaction with Life Scale was used to quantify life satisfaction. Sociodemographic-, lifestyle-related and health-related determinants were included in multiple linear regressions. In regression analysis, life satisfaction served as outcome measure and in a robustness check ordered probit regressions were used. RESULTS: Among transgender people, 12.9% can be classified as "extremely dissatisfied", 18.3% can be classified as "dissatisfied", 12.9% can be classified as "slightly dissatisfied", 7.5% as "neutral", 30.1% as "slightly satisfied", 17.2% as "satisfied" and 1.1% as "extremely satisfied". Higher levels of life satisfaction were associated with higher age (ß = .15, p < .05), higher school education (ß = 5.54, p < .001), and favorable self-rated health (ß = 2.20, p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Nearly half of the transgender people were at least "satisfied" with their lives. Knowledge about the correlates of life satisfaction may assist in addressing unsatisfied individuals.

Atención de los profesionales de la salud a personas trans en América Latina y el Caribe / Health professionals care for trans people in Latin America and the Caribbean

Resumen El presente estudio tuvo por objetivo analizar las características de artículos científicos publicados durante el último quindenio respecto a la atención en salud a personas trans en América Latina y el Caribe. Se desarrolló una revisión sistematizada de artículos publicados en cuatro bases de datos, entre los años 2005 y 2020, en la que se encontraron 20 estudios que fueron objeto de análisis. En su mayoría, estos dan cuenta de las percepciones que tienen las comunidades trans y, en menor frecuencia, las experiencias de los profesionales de la salud sobre la atención en salud. Los resultados permiten identificar barreras que influyen en los procesos de atención y los desafíos para mejorarla. Sobresale la formación deficiente e insuficiente en los profesionales sobre identidades trans y los enfoques diferenciales y afirmativos del género, y la necesidad de fortalecer los abordajes integrales entre las comunidades académicas, de la salud y la generación de políticas públicas transformativas.

Abstract Health care is important for the transitions of people with trans life experiences and to strengthen the processes of health and disease. Health professionals are educating and accompanying agents; however, the literature frequently reports that there are barriers perceived by professionals regarding their competencies to accompany such processes, in addition to others related to social representations regarding trans identities, the limited scientific evidence regarding the processes of gender reaffirmation and representing the communities themselves according to their historical and sociocultural characteristics. The aim of this study was to analyze the characteristics of scientific articles published during 15 years regarding health care for trans persons in Latin America and the Caribbean. A systematized review of articles published in four databases between 2005 and 2020 was carried out. 20 studies were analyzed in the research. Most of them report the perceptions of trans communities and, less frequently, the experiences of health professionals on health care. The results allow the identification of barriers that influence the processes of care and the challenges to improve it. The deficient and insufficient training of professionals on trans identities and differential and affirmative gender approaches stand out, as well as the need to strengthen comprehensive approaches among the academic and health communities and the generation of trans affirmative public policies. On the other hand, the results evidence a construction of science with respect to gender that is cisnormative and invisibilizes gender diversities. In addition, many of the studies establish vertical relationships between participants, including researchers, which generates research dynamics in which trans communities are considered more as informants and less as expert peers, community researchers or participants in a collaborative and co-creative research process. These findings support the need and renew the urgency to generate processes of knowledge construction with and for trans communities that allow nurturing educational, social, public policy and health spaces that represent their needs for gender transitions, in case the person considers so, and that welcome in an integral and humanized way the processes of health and disease. Research on health and health care in trans communities both in Colombia and in the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean does not show the implementation of health policies focused on the community and that respond to their health needs. Health professionals, around the world, should accompany from care actions focused on the processes of self-identification and self-determination of gender. Being recognized and made visible based on gender identities and expressions has a positive impact on the mental health of trans people and their well-being. In professional practice, it is important and essential to overcome the barriers of social inequality, promoting a critical social vision and understanding of the reality of this population. It is necessary to expand research from gender diversities and separate from the LGBTIQ+ umbrella given the complex social, cultural, biological, and psychological diversities faced by each community. As for health professionals, it is necessary to deepen the measurement and understanding of attitudes, knowledge, beliefs, skills and gaps identified by all staff, from doctors and nurses to institution managers. This in order to articulate and triangulate information and develop intervention programs aimed at comprehensive and accessible care, especially for their reports about the little information on sexual and gender diversity received during their professional training process and organizational culture. Finally, each country should develop clinical guidelines based on local, national, and international evidence that responds to the psychological and sociocultural needs and experiences of trans communities that include the process of gender transitions from hormone therapy, affirmative surgeries and other non-binary processes of gender expressions, family, psychosocial support, and community accompaniment.

Willingness to use and preferences for long-acting injectable PrEP among sexual and gender minority populations in the southern United States, 2021-2022: cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Long-acting injectable (LAI) pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2021. LAI PrEP is more effective than oral PrEP. However, it is not clear whether the groups most at risk of HIV in the United States will use LAI PrEP. Willingness to use LAI PrEP and preference for LAI versus oral PrEP has not been reported for sexual and gender minority (SGM) people in the southern United States, where the HIV epidemic is concentrated. Our goal was to assess willingness to use LAI PrEP and preference for oral versus LAI PrEP among SGM people in the southern United States and to assess differences in willingness by demographics and sexual behaviour. METHODS: We conducted an online, cross-sectional survey of SGM people aged 15-34 years in the southern United States (n = 583). Participants reported willingness to use LAI PrEP and preferences for LAI PrEP versus daily oral PrEP. We assessed bivariate associations and adjusted prevalence ratios for the LAI-PrEP-related outcomes and key demographic and behavioural characteristics. RESULTS: Overall, 68% of all participants (n = 393) reported being willing to use LAI PrEP that provides protection against HIV for 3 months. Of those, most (n = 320, 81%) indicated a preference for using LAI PrEP, compared to a daily oral pill or no preference. Willingness to use LAI PrEP was more common among transgender and non-binary participants and participants who engaged in condomless anal intercourse in the last 6 months. Hispanic participants were more likely and non-Hispanic Black participants were less likely to report willingness to use LAI PrEP compared to non-Hispanic White participants. CONCLUSIONS: Willingness to use LAI PrEP was high among SGM people in the southern United States, although there were some important differences in willingness based on demographic characteristics. Decreased willingness to use LAI PrEP among groups who are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic, such as non-Hispanic Black SGM people, could exacerbate existing disparities in HIV incidence. LAI PrEP is an acceptable option among SGM populations in the southern United States, but strategies will be needed to ensure equitable implementation.