Date of Award

12-6-2022

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Health Policy and Management

First Advisor

Dr. Muslima Ejaz

Second Advisor

M. Asim

Third Advisor

Ms. Farina

Department

Community Health Sciences

Abstract

Background: The transgender community has been experiencing challenges for decades; they are a varied diverse group of individuals whose gender identity differs from the gender assigned to them at birth. They have unique healthcare needs based on their genetic composition. Their needs are distinct from those of the general population because of the community's physical and structural characteristics. Since their early years, individuals in the transgender community have been exposed to several mental illnesses because of social and familial rejections. Due to the rejections, individuals in this group are compelled to choose to work as sex workers to meet their financial requirements, which exposes them to a variety of STDs. However, despite having several unique healthcare needs, this community avoided using the health services owing to the fear of the response of the healthcare professionals and the public, which eventually led to the alternative of self-medication.
Purpose: This study aimed to explore the transgender community's explicit healthcare needs. The findings of this research have highlighted the challenges the trans population faces in accessing health services. Additionally, this study aims to emphasize the disparities in healthcare for the trans community and to also provides suggestions to overcome those gaps. Whereas the study also underlined several circumstances that have made it difficult for this marginalized group to readily obtain healthcare services, including transphobia, discrimination within our society, and a lack of recognition of their gender identity.
Method: This is a mixed-method qualitative study in which two different qualitative approaches have been used during the data collection process to explore the study objectives and for triangulation of the findings. The "Descriptive Exploratory Study" approach is employed to carry out this study among the numerous qualitative study designs. For the data, collection focus group discussions were conducted with the transgender women to explore their explicit health needs. However, key informants’ in-depth interviews were conducted with the healthcare professionals to know their perceptions about the health needs of the transgender community.
Findings: After the data were collected, individuals of the transgender community spoke up about their specific healthcare needs, describing how being abandoned by their parents and then being unemployed exposed them to a variety of mental illnesses and drug addictions. They are being forced to work as sex workers because of social rejection, which exposes them to HIV and STDs. Additionally, the transgender community expressed that despite having unique healthcare needs that necessitate urgent treatment, they struggle to obtain appropriate medical services. This community is compelled to live a compromised existence or use self-medication because of prejudice. However, the medical professionals' interviews highlighted how their lack of training has acted as a barrier, and the trans community has also discussed the communication gap caused by transphobia.
Conclusion: The study explored the fundamental and unique healthcare needs of transgender women, which must be addressed. Furthermore, there is also an exploration of the problems the transgender population confronts with the healthcare system. On the other hand, the research explored how health professionals perceived the needs of the transgender community. However, the study's findings highlighted the health professionals' lack of understanding of the health needs of the transgender population. Additionally, this underprivileged population should have access to a transgender-specific healthcare system to receive the crucial medical services they require.

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