Profound health-care discrimination experienced by transgender people: rapid systematic review

Soc Work Health Care. 2019 Feb;58(2):201-219. doi: 10.1080/00981389.2018.1532941. Epub 2018 Oct 15.

Abstract

Transgender people experience interpersonal and structural barriers which prevent them from accessing culturally and medically competent health care. This rapid systematic review examined the prevalence of health-care discrimination among transgender people in the U.S. and drew comparisons with sexual minority samples and the general U.S. population. Eight primary studies with 35 prevalence estimates were analyzed. Transgender populations experience profound rates of discrimination within the U.S. health-care system. Compared to sexual minorities, transgender participants appear to be more compromised in their access to health care. Service providers must change structural inequities which contribute to transgender people's invisibility.

Keywords: Cisgenderism; cisnormativity; health-care access; health-care discrimination; rapid systematic review; trans*; transgender.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Female
  • Health Services Accessibility / organization & administration*
  • Health Services Accessibility / standards
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Prejudice*
  • Sexual and Gender Minorities / psychology
  • Transgender Persons / psychology*