Stress and resilience factors in the access and utilization of health services by travestis and transgender women in northeast Brazil

Abstract

Gender is a social category directly linked to health determination, but it has often been constrained to the categories of male and female, obscuring significant demands from identities that go beyond this binary framework, such as transgender identities (travestis and transsexuals). Gender minority stress is a theory that categorizes stress and resilience factors relevant to explaining how gender experiences disproportionately impact transgender individuals, particularly in mental health outcomes. Given this context, this study examines the relations between user access and use of health services and the stress and resilience factors of travestis and transgender women in northeastern Brazil. A qualitative health research was conducted with data collected by means of semi-structured interviews with five adult trans women residing in the Cariri region, Ceará state. Health access was homogeneous, yet all interviewees faced stress-inducing situations during service use. Resilience factors were identified, leading this population to seek healthcare outside the state system due to use challenges. These findings highlight the need to discuss the breadth and progress of gender affirming care and the applicability of the National Policy of Comprehensive Healthcare for LGBT individuals within the Brazilian National Health System in northeastern Brazil.