Global health burden and needs of transgender populations: a review.

Journal: Lancet (London, England)

Volume: 388

Issue: 10042

Year of Publication: 2016

Affiliated Institutions:  Division of General Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: sari.reisner@childrens.harvard.edu. Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. Center of Excellence for Transgender Health, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. Global Action for Trans* Equality, Buenos Aires, Argentina and New York, NY, USA. MATRIX, Lesotho, Africa. Fenway Institute, Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA; Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, USA. Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Abstract summary 

Transgender people are a diverse population affected by a range of negative health indicators across high-income, middle-income, and low-income settings. Studies consistently document a high prevalence of adverse health outcomes in this population, including HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, mental health distress, and substance use and abuse. However, many other health areas remain understudied, population-based representative samples and longitudinal studies are few, and routine surveillance efforts for transgender population health are scarce. The absence of survey items with which to identify transgender respondents in general surveys often restricts the availability of data with which to estimate the magnitude of health inequities and characterise the population-level health of transgender people globally. Despite the limitations, there are sufficient data highlighting the unique biological, behavioural, social, and structural contextual factors surrounding health risks and resiliencies for transgender people. To mitigate these risks and foster resilience, a comprehensive approach is needed that includes gender affirmation as a public health framework, improved health systems and access to health care informed by high quality data, and effective partnerships with local transgender communities to ensure responsiveness of and cultural specificity in programming. Consideration of transgender health underscores the need to explicitly consider sex and gender pathways in epidemiological research and public health surveillance more broadly.

Authors & Co-authors:  Reisner Sari L SL Poteat Tonia T Keatley JoAnne J Cabral Mauro M Mothopeng Tampose T Dunham Emilia E Holland Claire E CE Max Ryan R Baral Stefan D SD

Study Outcome 

Source Link: Visit source

Statistics
Citations :  IOM (Institute of Medicine). The Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender People: Building a Foundation for Better Understanding. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2011.
Authors :  9
Identifiers
Doi : 10.1016/S0140-6736(16)00684-X
SSN : 1474-547X
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Global Health
Other Terms
Study Design
Longitudinal Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Publication Country
England