Transgender and gender diverse people's experience of non-transition-related health care in Sweden

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: The transgender population is a marginalized group in society and research suggests that they experience significant barriers when accessing health care. However, little is known about transgender and gender-diverse people and their experiences of encounters with healthcare professionals in Sweden. Aim: To explore transgender and gender-diverse people's experiences of accessing health care in Sweden. Method: Semi-structured interviews with 12 self-identified transgender or gender-diverse individuals were analyzed in a latent thematic analysis. Results: Participants experienced difficulties in having their gender identity acknowledged in encounters with healthcare staff. Most healthcare professionals were believed to lack knowledge about transgender people, and participants felt they needed to take a lot of responsibility themselves to ensure they received adequate care. Due to negative experiences, or fear of them, some participants delayed seeking health care or they chose to withhold their transgender identity during healthcare consultations. Discussion: Participants’ experiences suggest that healthcare professionals in Sweden may be insufficiently equipped to provide competent and gender affirming care for transgender individuals. There appears to be an urgent need for interventions specifically designed to improve the quality of health care for these individuals. Further research is needed to determine what specific interventions would be most effective, and to elucidate the specific needs of differing groups within the transgender community to promote optimal care for each person.