Awareness and attitude of medical personnel in Kerala, India to transgender persons

Abstract

Being one of the first Indian states to come out with a transgender bill in 2015, Kerala's Social Justice Department also implemented various health-based provisions for transgender individuals catering to their physical, mental, and gender-based health. Many of these are still in the process of being set up and transgender individuals will have to wait for smoother access to healthcare. This study aims to assess the awareness regarding general transgender issues and health as well as the attitude towards transgender persons among the medical community- especially medical students and doctors who are a critical link for the integration of the transgender community into society. Responses were collected from 452 medical doctors and students from Kerala through scales that measured awareness level and attitude, including transphobia. The relation of gender, age, years of experience, and specialty of medical personnel to the level of transphobia and awareness about transgender issues was also analyzed using statistical methods. Transphobia levels were moderate in the sample. Women and medical students had lower levels of transphobia than men and practicing doctors respectively. Awareness levels were average for general information about the transgender community, such as its core features and difference from other similar categories but were low on health-related aspects of transgender persons (such as their physical and mental health issues, healthcare provisions, and knowledge on gender affirmation surgery). More inclusive actions are needed in medical education, legislative actions, advocacy groups, and the formation of multidisciplinary surgical teams to further the cause of the transgender community.