Challenges and Opportunities for Transgender Health Care in Puerto Rico

Transgender people have been recognized as an invisible group among LGBT populations. This group has limited resources and access to competent health care within the public health infrastructure. Although public health professionals are called to facilitate equity in their efforts, initiatives in this direction are challenged by limited knowledge and resources to address the needs of these populations. Very little is known about the transgender populations in Puerto Rico. Most of the efforts are leaded by CBOs and oriented to HIV/AIDS prevention.

This research comprehends a description of challenges and opportunities for transgender health care in Puerto Rico. Participants from a CBO in San Juan area and other trans people were recruited through snowball sampling. The health care assessment has a mix-method design. This presentation includes the results from a survey designed to quantify specific interest areas. Findings clearly establish the needs of more comprehensive approaches to promote health care among trans populations. This includes addressing issues regarding, legal concerns, discrimination, phobias, sexual health, STI, and sexual reassignment procedures and treatment. Regarding HIV/AIDS prevention, participants identified the needs to reconsider the venues and schedules to provide services, provide preventive case management, distribute condoms and educational materials, and develop support groups for trans people living with VIH/AIDS. Findings suggests a reorientation of public health efforts to support these populations including, promoting visibility of trans populations, address stigma among public health infrastructure through capacity building, and facilitating comprehensive health care to trans people considering their idiosyncrasies and diversities.