TransCare COVID19: Experiences in Navigating and Accessing Healthcare During Pandemic

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Transgender persons are those whose experience of their gender (gender identity) is incongruent with the sex they were assigned to at birth (birth-assigned sex). In India, transgender persons are among the most vulnerable groups of the population. Despite having higher burden of diseases, transgender persons in India face immense challenges in accessing health facilities which further contributes to their poor health and social exclusion. This includes challenges before or in reaching the health facility such as low health literacy, social exclusion, financial constraints and lower education and challenges within the health facility, such as discrimination, misgendering, insensitivity, lack of privacy and confidentiality, and verbal and physical abuse. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented new challenges to this population.

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LOCATION

Bhopal Madhya Pradesh

PROJECT DURATION

Mar 2021 to Sep 2021 

PROJECT GOAL

TransCare COVID19 aims to conduct a qualitative study to document the experiences of transgender persons in accessing and navigating healthcare in India, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and with a special emphasis on their mental health. The study will take an intersectionality approach to recognise the diversity of experiences within the community. Being a vulnerable and marginalized community, it is proposed to use a community-based participatory approach so that the study is co-led with the community and is relevant to the felt needs of the community. Among qualitative methods, the study will use in-depth interviews and focus group discussions.

KEY IMPACT

The project is planned as a key step of several efforts by the investigator team towards making healthcare in India transgender-inclusive in line with the mandate of the Transgender Act. In particular, it is planned as a vital step towards creating a trans-affirmative competency curriculum in health professionals’ education in India, and the larger goal of enabling access to trans-affirmative health care for members of the community.

TEAM

For further details please write to us at admin.bhopal@sangath.in

FUNDERS