Brazilian transgender population vulnerable experiences when medically transitioning: insights from an emerging country
(A2022-107728)

AUTHORS

Andres Veloso, University of Sao Paulo; Vívian Marangoni, Universidade do Estado do Amazonas; Sofia Ferraz, ESPM

ABSTRACT

Transgender populations face several macro-environmental forces that put them into vulnerable situations (e.g., lack of health services, social or work-related prejudice undermining their options to earn a living). Within this context, transgender populations undergo transitioning efforts: a series of processes that allow them to fully incorporate their gender, such as social, medical, and legal transitioning. The overall lack of support during the transitioning process forces these individuals to consume inappropriate and potentially harmful products/services. Our study aims to understand how transgender individuals experience this process. Based on in-depth interviews with 25 participants, we identified the widespread use and consumption of self-medicated hormones, non-medical industrial silicon, and surgical interventions to pursue medical transitioning objectives. Prostitution becomes a must-go-to option to finance this process.