Open AccessHealth and Health Care Among Transgender Adults in the United States
Author(s) -
Ayden I. Scheim,
Kellan Baker,
Arjee Restar,
Randall L. Sell
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
annual review of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.239
H-Index - 144
eISSN - 1545-2093
pISSN - 0163-7525
DOI - 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-052620-100313
Subject(s) - transgender , health equity , public health , social determinants of health , health care , health promotion , intersectionality , health policy , mental health , psychology , public policy , political science , gerontology , public relations , environmental health , sociology , medicine , gender studies , nursing , psychiatry , law
Transgender (trans) communities in the USA and globally have long organized for health and social equity but have only recently gained increased visibility within public health. In this review, we synthesize evidence demonstrating that trans adults in the USA are affected by disparities in physical and mental health and in access to health care, relative to cisgender (nontrans) persons. We draw on theory and data to situate these disparities in their social contexts, explicating the roles of gender affirmation, multilevel and intersectional stigmas, and public policies in reproducing or ameliorating trans health disparities. Until recently, trans health disparities were largely made invisible by exclusionary data collection practices. We highlight the importance of, and methodological considerations for, collecting inclusive sex and gender data. Moving forward, we recommend routine collection of gender identity data, an emphasis on intervention research to achieve trans health equity, public policy advocacy, and investment in supporting gender-diverse public health leadership.