Disruption of gender-affirming health care, and COVID-19 illness, testing, and vaccination among trans Australians during the pandemic: a cross-sectional survey.
Med J Aust
; 220(1): 23-28, 2024 01 15.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37994182
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
To assess rates of disruption of gender-affirming health care, of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) illness, testing, and vaccination, and of discrimination in health care among Australian trans people during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN,SETTING:
Online cross-sectional survey (1-31 May 2022); respondents were participants recruited by snowball sampling for TRANSform, an Australian longitudinal survey-based trans health study, 1 May - 30 June 2020.PARTICIPANTS:
People aged 16 years or older, currently living in Australia, and with a gender different to their sex recorded at birth. MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURES:
Proportions of respondents who reported disruptions to gender-affirming health care, COVID-19 illness, testing, and vaccination, and positive and negative experiences during health care.RESULTS:
Of 875 people invited, 516 provided valid survey responses (59%). Their median age was 33 years (interquartile range, 26-45 years); 193 identified as women or trans women (37%), 185 as men or trans men (36%), and 138 as non-binary (27%). Of 448 respondents receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy, 230 (49%) reported disruptions to treatment during the pandemic; booked gender-affirming surgery had been cancelled or postponed for 37 of 85 respondents (44%). Trans-related discrimination during health care was reported by a larger proportion of participants than in a pre-pandemic survey (56% v 26%). COVID-19 was reported by 132 respondents (26%), of whom 49 reported health consequences three months or more after the acute illness (37%; estimated Australian rate 5-10%). Three or more COVID-19 vaccine doses were reported by 448 participants (87%; Australian adult rate 70%).CONCLUSIONS:
High rates of COVID-19 vaccination among the trans people we surveyed may reflect the effectiveness of LGBTIQA+ community-controlled organisation vaccination programs and targeted health promotion. Training health care professionals in inclusive services for trans people could improve access to appropriate health care and reduce discrimination.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Vacinação
/
COVID-19
/
População Australasiana
/
Assistência à Saúde Afirmativa de Gênero
Limite:
Adult
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Female
/
Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
País/Região como assunto:
Oceania
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Med J Aust
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de publicação:
AU
/
AUSTRALIA
/
AUSTRÁLIA