Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41814317›Full record

ArticleInternational journal for equity in health2026

Barriers to health care access among transgender people in Kerala.

Bhavya Fernandez, Rakhal Gaitonde

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal for equity in health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Bhavya FernandezAchutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, Kerala, India. bhavya.fernandez@gmail.com.
Rakhal GaitondeAchutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite numerous efforts to implement inclusive policies in Kerala, transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals continue to face institutional discrimination, resulting in significant challenges in accessing health care. Existing literature highlights the need for actions to expand the availability and utilisation of health care services for these individuals to prevent institutional erasure. This study aimed to identify the barriers health care faced by transgender people in Kerala.

methodsA mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a cross-sectional survey among 120 TGD individuals for quantitative data and in-depth interviews among 13 TGD individuals for qualitative insights.

resultsThis study examined barriers to healthcare access among transgender people in Kerala, using Levesque et al.'s framework. Participants (mean age 33 years) included transwomen, transmen, and gender-fluid individuals. Key barriers included the limited functionality of the specialised TGD clinics, a perceived lack of awareness and responsiveness among health care workers, and experiences of discrimination. Financial constraints further restricted access to hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries. Structural barriers, such as the absence of gender-neutral facilities and inadequate admission protocols compounded these challenges. Participants emphasised the need for health care worker training and the expansion of public provision for gender-affirming care to address these barriers.

conclusionThe identified barriers are deeply rooted in the social position of the TGD community, necessitating an approach that acknowledges the social determinants of their health to achieve meaningful improvements in health care access.

Indexed as

Health Services AccessibilityTransgender PersonsAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansIndiaMaleQualitative ResearchSurveys and QuestionnairesGender-affirming careHealth care access barriersTransgender health

Identifiers

PMID41814317
PMCPMC13093964

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.