Disruption of gender‐affirming health care, and COVID‐19 illness, testing, and vaccination among trans Australians during the pandemic: a cross‐sectional survey

Abstract

ObjectivesTo assess rates of disruption of gender‐affirming health care, of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) illness, testing, and vaccination, and of discrimination in health care among Australian trans people during the COVID‐19 pandemic.Design, settingOnline cross‐sectional survey (1–31 May 2022); respondents were participants recruited by snowball sampling for TRANSform, an Australian longitudinal survey‐based trans health study, 1 May – 30 June 2020.ParticipantsPeople aged 16 years or older, currently living in Australia, and with a gender different to their sex recorded at birth.Main outcome measuresProportions of respondents who reported disruptions to gender‐affirming health care, COVID‐19 illness, testing, and vaccination, and positive and negative experiences during health care.ResultsOf 875 people invited, 516 provided valid survey responses (59%). Their median age was 33 years (interquartile range, 26–45 years); 193 identified as women or trans women (37%), 185 as men or trans men (36%), and 138 as non‐binary (27%). Of 448 respondents receiving gender‐affirming hormone therapy, 230 (49%) reported disruptions to treatment during the pandemic; booked gender‐affirming surgery had been cancelled or postponed for 37 of 85 respondents (44%). Trans‐related discrimination during health care was reported by a larger proportion of participants than in a pre‐pandemic survey (56% v 26%). COVID‐19 was reported by 132 respondents (26%), of whom 49 reported health consequences three months or more after the acute illness (37%; estimated Australian rate: 5–10%). Three or more COVID‐19 vaccine doses were reported by 448 participants (87%; Australian adult rate: 70%).ConclusionsHigh rates of COVID‐19 vaccination among the trans people we surveyed may reflect the effectiveness of LGBTIQA+ community‐controlled organisation vaccination programs and targeted health promotion. Training health care professionals in inclusive services for trans people could improve access to appropriate health care and reduce discrimination.