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Abstract
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PURPOSE: U.S. health surveillance systems infrequently include measures to identify transgender respondents or monitor the health of this underserved and marginalized population.
METHODS: From 2001 to 2002, transgender and nontransgender adults were sampled at a Massachusetts clinic. Health differences were formatively examined by transgender identity using a cross-sectional, clinic-based sample (n=2,653) and a nested matched-pair subsample (n=155).
RESULTS: Both designs produced virtually identical findings: (1) the prevalence of HIV, substance abuse, and smoking did not differ significantly for transgender and nontransgender patients; (2) transgender patients were more likely to endorse a lifetime suicide attempt and ideation compared with nontransgender patients (p<0.05); (3) transgender patients disproportionately reported social stressors (violence, discrimination, childhood abuse) relative to nontransgender patients (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that a nested design may provide an effective methodology for using clinical data to study transgender health and underscore the need for routine collection of gender identity in clinical settings. © Copyright 2014, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 2014.
Language: en |