ABSTRACT
Objective
To analyze the sociodemographic and access profile of trans men and transmasculine individuals linked to the Transgender Outpatient Clinic in Porto Alegre, capital city of the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Methods
This was a descriptive cross-sectional study based on data from users registered with the service between 2019 and 2021.
Results
Of the 418 people included, 384 (91.2%) identified as trans men and 34 (8.8%) as transmasculine individuals. The majority were of White race/skin color (77.9%) and 16.4% had a right to name and gender rectification. Scheduled appointments were the predominant mode of access (84.0%). Among the trans men, 188 (49.0%) had utilized primary healthcare services prior to receiving care at the outpatient clinic.
Conclusion
The users were predominantly young, White, with higher levels of education, and were minimally engaged in the formal labor market. The existence of a service staffed with qualified and sensitized professionals can enhance the access of this population to the Brazilian National Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde – SUS).
Keywords
Health Services for Transgender People; Trans Men; Primary Health Care; Cross-sectional Studies; Equity; Access to Health Services
Study contributions
Main results
Less than half of trans men had used primary healthcare services prior to receiving care at the Transgender Outpatient Clinic. Users are predominantly young, White, with higher levels of education and are minimally engaged in the formal labor market.
Implications for services
The results can serve as a basis for structuring and improving healthcare services and policies for trans men and transmasculine individuals within the SUS. It also shows that specialized and sensitized professionals can expand access to healthcare.
Perspectives
It is essential to develop comprehensive studies (both qualitative and quantitative) that evaluate the barriers to accessing the SUS faced by trans men and transmasculine individuals, as well as feasible ways to reduce them.