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. 2017 Aug;61(2):259-261.
doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.02.013. Epub 2017 Apr 21.

Sociodemographic Factors Associated With Trans*female Youth's Access to Health Care in the San Francisco Bay Area

Elizabeth A Johns  1 , Harry Jin  2 , Colette L Auerswald  3 , Erin C Wilson  2
Affiliations

Sociodemographic Factors Associated With Trans*female Youth's Access to Health Care in the San Francisco Bay Area

Elizabeth A Johns et al. J Adolesc Health. 2017 Aug.

Abstract

Purpose: Trans*female youth (TFY) are an underserved population at risk for a variety of poor health outcomes, in part related to barriers to accessing health and mental health care.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected with 250 TFY aged 16-24 years in the San Francisco Bay Area from 2012 to 2014. Logistic regression was used to test associations between sociodemographic variables and barriers to gender identity-based medical and mental health care.

Results: Having a history of unstable housing was associated with significantly higher odds of problems accessing both medical care (odds ratio: 2.16, 95% confidence interval: 1.12-4.13) and mental health care due to gender identity (odds ratio 2.65, 95% confidence interval: 1.08-6.45). Conversely, identifying as genderqueer/genderfluid, Latina, or living in dependent housing was associated with access to either medical or mental health care.

Conclusions: Interventions are needed to address housing and discrimination barring access to health care among TFY.

Keywords: Access to health care; Adolescent; Gender identity; Homeless youth; Homelessness; Mental health; Person; San Francisco Bay Area; Transgender.

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