Dataset Information

Disruption of gender-affirming health care, and COVID-19 illness, testing, and vaccination among trans Australians during the pandemic: a cross-sectional survey.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To assess rates of disruption of gender-affirming health care, of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) illness, testing, and vaccination, and of discrimination in health care among Australian trans people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design, setting

Online cross-sectional survey (1-31 May 2022); respondents were participants recruited by snowball sampling for TRANSform, an Australian longitudinal survey-based trans health study, 1 May - 30 June 2020.

Participants

People aged 16 years or older, currently living in Australia, and with a gender different to their sex recorded at birth.

Main outcome measures

Proportions of respondents who reported disruptions to gender-affirming health care, COVID-19 illness, testing, and vaccination, and positive and negative experiences during health care.

Results

Of 875 people invited, 516 provided valid survey responses (59%). Their median age was 33 years (interquartile range, 26-45 years); 193 identified as women or trans women (37%), 185 as men or trans men (36%), and 138 as non-binary (27%). Of 448 respondents receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy, 230 (49%) reported disruptions to treatment during the pandemic; booked gender-affirming surgery had been cancelled or postponed for 37 of 85 respondents (44%). Trans-related discrimination during health care was reported by a larger proportion of participants than in a pre-pandemic survey (56% v 26%). COVID-19 was reported by 132 respondents (26%), of whom 49 reported health consequences three months or more after the acute illness (37%; estimated Australian rate: 5-10%). Three or more COVID-19 vaccine doses were reported by 448 participants (87%; Australian adult rate: 70%).

Conclusions

High rates of COVID-19 vaccination among the trans people we surveyed may reflect the effectiveness of LGBTIQA+ community-controlled organisation vaccination programs and targeted health promotion. Training health care professionals in inclusive services for trans people could improve access to appropriate health care and reduce discrimination.

SUBMITTER: Zwickl S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10952718 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Disruption of gender-affirming health care, and COVID-19 illness, testing, and vaccination among trans Australians during the pandemic: a cross-sectional survey.

Zwickl Sav S Ruggles Tomi T Wong Alex Fq AF Ginger Ariel A Angus Lachlan M LM Eshin Kalen K Cook Teddy T Cheung Ada S AS

The Medical journal of Australia 20231123 1

<h4>Objectives</h4>To assess rates of disruption of gender-affirming health care, of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) illness, testing, and vaccination, and of discrimination in health care among Australian trans people during the COVID-19 pandemic.<h4>Design, setting</h4>Online cross-sectional survey (1-31 May 2022); respondents were participants recruited by snowball sampling for TRANSform, an Australian longitudinal survey-based trans health study, 1 May - 30 June 2020.<h4>Participants</h4 ...[more]

PMID: 37994182

Similar Datasets

Project description:ImportanceWhile changes in federal and state laws mandating coverage of gender-affirming surgery (GAS) may have led to an increase in the number of annual cases, comprehensive data describing trends in both inpatient and outpatient procedures are limited.ObjectiveTo examine trends in inpatient and outpatient GAS procedures in the US and to explore the temporal trends in the types of GAS performed across age groups.Design, setting, and participantsThis cohort study includes data from 2016 to 2020 in the Nationwide Ambulatory Surgery Sample and the National Inpatient Sample. Patients with diagnosis codes for gender identity disorder, transsexualism, or a personal history of sex reassignment were identified, and the performance of GAS, including breast and chest procedures, genital reconstructive procedures, and other facial and cosmetic surgical procedures, were identified.Main outcome measuresWeighted estimates of the annual number of inpatient and outpatient procedures performed and the distribution of each class of procedure overall and by age were analyzed.ResultsA total of 48 019 patients who underwent GAS were identified, including 25 099 (52.3%) who were aged 19 to 30 years. The most common procedures were breast and chest procedures, which occurred in 27 187 patients (56.6%), followed by genital reconstruction (16 872 [35.1%]) and other facial and cosmetic procedures (6669 [13.9%]). The absolute number of GAS procedures rose from 4552 in 2016 to a peak of 13 011 in 2019 and then declined slightly to 12 818 in 2020. Overall, 25 099 patients (52.3%) were aged 19 to 30 years, 10 476 (21.8%) were aged 31 to 40, and 3678 (7.7%) were aged12 to 18 years. When stratified by the type of procedure performed, breast and chest procedures made up a greater percentage of the surgical interventions in younger patients, while genital surgical procedures were greater in older patients.Conclusions and relevancePerformance of GAS has increased substantially in the US. Breast and chest surgery was the most common group of procedures performed. The number of genital surgical procedures performed increased with increasing age.

Project description:IntroductionMuch has been published on the surgical and functional results following Gender Affirming Surgery ('GAS') in trans individuals. Comprehensive results regarding sexual wellbeing following GAS, however, are generally lacking.AimTo review the impact of various GAS on sexual wellbeing in treatment seeking trans individuals, and provide a comprehensive list of clinical recommendations regarding the various surgical options of GAS on behalf of the European Society for Sexual Medicine.MethodsThe Medline, Cochrane Library and Embase databases were reviewed on the results of sexual wellbeing after GAS.Main outcomes measureThe task force established consensus statements regarding the somatic and general requirements before GAS and of GAS: orchiectomy-only, vaginoplasty, breast augmentation, vocal feminization surgery, facial feminization surgery, mastectomy, removal of the female sexual organs, metaidoioplasty, and phalloplasty. Outcomes pertaining to sexual wellbeing- sexual satisfaction, sexual relationship, sexual response, sexual activity, enacted sexual script, sexuality, sexual function, genital function, quality of sex life and sexual pleasure- are provided for each statement separately.ResultsThe present position paper provides clinicians with statements and recommendations for clinical practice, regarding GAS and their effects on sexual wellbeing in trans individuals. These data, are limited and may not be sufficient to make evidence-based recommendations for every surgical option. Findings regarding sexual wellbeing following GAS were mainly positive. There was no data on sexual wellbeing following orchiectomy-only, vocal feminization surgery, facial feminization surgery or the removal of the female sexual organs. The choice for GAS is dependent on patient preference, anatomy and health status, and the surgeon's skills. Trans individuals may benefit from studies focusing exclusively on the effects of GAS on sexual wellbeing.ConclusionThe available evidence suggests positive results regarding sexual wellbeing following GAS. We advise more studies that underline the evidence regarding sexual wellbeing following GAS. This position statement may aid both clinicians and patients in decision-making process regarding the choice for GAS. Özer M, Toulabi SP, Fisher AD, et al. ESSM Position Statement "Sexual Wellbeing After Gender Affirming Surgery". Sex Med 2022;10:100471.

Dataset Information

Disruption of gender-affirming health care, and COVID-19 illness, testing, and vaccination among trans Australians during the pandemic: a cross-sectional survey.

Objectives

Design, setting

Participants

Main outcome measures

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Disruption of gender-affirming health care, and COVID-19 illness, testing, and vaccination among trans Australians during the pandemic: a cross-sectional survey.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets