Problems Faced by Hijras (Male to Female Transgenders) in Mumbai with Reference to Their Health and Harassment by the Police

Roy

Int J Community Med Public Health

et al. 2018

Background: Transgender people are stigmatised in our society and are being discriminated in every aspect of life. Many of them experience abuses in various forms since childhood. Accordingly these might have adverse consequences on their life and modify their quality of life (QOL). This aspect needs to be explored. In this context the present study was conducted to assess the QOL among adult transgender people and to find its association with their socio-demographic characteristics in Burdwan municipal area of Burdwan district.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during July-December 2016 among 79 adult transgender people residing in the study area. Sample size was based on 50% having satisfactory QOL with 95% CI, 10% relative error, and 10% non-response rate with finite population correction (total target reference population 96). Subjects were selected by simple random sampling and recruited for interview by time space sampling. Socio-demographic characteristics were assessed by a predesigned schedule and QOL was assessed by using a validated Bengali version of WHO-QOL BREF questionnaires.Results: 56.9% people were found to be have good QOL score as a whole. Maximum and minimum percentages of good QOL score was found in environmental domain (84.7%) and social relationship domain (45.8%). A significant positive correlation was found between education and monthly income with QOL score while negative correlation between age and QOL score. Marital status, current living status and occupation were found to have a statistically significant association with QOL score.Conclusions: The study measured QOL as well as identified some important socio-demographic variables which affected QOL among transgender people. These findings can help the government to plan conceptually to improve QOL in this special transgender group of population by some legislation, social awareness and facilities dedicated towards them.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An assessment of quality of life of transgender adults in an urban area of Burdwan district, West Bengal

Roy

Int J Community Med Public Health

et al. 2018

“…This result was similar to a large qualitative study in Mumbai, 2015, as well as a national study in Malaysia, 2008. 7,13 Studies in Thailand in 2006 and 2011 had subjects of even younger age (mean=24.1 years to 25.4 years). 9,14 Researchers in this study are concerned that taking excessive hormone at a younger age could lead to early development of morbidities, followed by poor quality of life in terms of health as the subjects get older.…”

Section: Discussion and Recommendationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hormone Consumption among Mak Nyahs in Kuantan Town: A Preliminary Survey

Draman¹,

Maliya²,

Farhan³

et al. 2018

imjm

Introduction: Mak nyahs (male-to-female transgenders) often consume feminizing hormones to achieve and maintain the female physical appearance. They do it without professional prescription/advise, and often take excessive doses. This renders them at risk of developing complications of hormone consumption. This paper provides some quantitative data on hormone consumption among mak nyahs in Kuantan, Pahang, in Malaysia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out from July to August in 2015 among 35 mak nyahs. Convenience sampling was used. Participants who gave consent answered an interview-guided questionnaire which documents socio-demographic profile, hormone usage, and morbidities as a result of hormone consumption. Data was analysed using SPSS, Version 16.0. (version 16). Results: Majority of the subjects were Malays (91.4%) and Muslims (97.1%), their median (IQR) age being 31 (±17) years, more than half (57.1%) were between 20 to 40 years old. Most (80.0%) of them are sex workers. Oral hormone was most commonly used (88.6%), while more than half (67.7%) of them added hormone injections. Almost all subjects purchased hormones over the counter from local pharmacies (94.2%). However, many received information on hormone from non-professional sources. Possible adverse effects of hormones reported among subjects were hypertension, ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and venous thrombo-embolism. Conclusion: Hormone consumption was very common among the subjects in this study, and may be associated with certain medical problems. Medical personnel must pay more attention in educating the mak nyahs on adverse effects of hormones consumption. Mak nyahs should also be screened for complications every time they seek medical attention.

East Asian Arch Psychiatry

“…16 In India, such individuals are often referred to as Hijra, but this identity does not match the modern western taxonomy of gender or sexual orientation. 7 In the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery curriculum in India, in the first year, physiology textbooks do not use the words or definitions of gender identity or sexual orientation. Some references and textbooks state that puberty is characterised by the development of attraction to the opposite sex, 17 and that during puberty love for contact sports like football, wrestling, boxing, war games, and aggressiveness are seen in males.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…6 There is evidence that LGBT people are disproportionately affected by certain medical conditions. 4,7 Sexual and gender minority patients have experienced discrimination, stigmatisation, and even denial of care in the health system. 8 A number of transgenders have had negative experiences with health professionals in government hospitals in India.7 According to the UNAIDS report in 2017, 4.3% of the Indian population were estimated to be at high risk of AIDS; they were men having sex with men and transgenders.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attitude of Indian Medical Students Towards Homosexuality

Kar

Mukherjee

Ventriglio

et al. 2018

Introduction: It is important to understand the attitude of medical students towards homosexuality, as this may affect patient care. Methods: Year 2 and 3 students at Calcutta National Medical College, Kolkata, India were asked to selfadminister an 18-item questionnaire anonymously. Internal consistency of the questionnaire statements was high (Cronbach's alpha of 0.91). There were five responses for each statement: strongly agree, generally agree, unsure, generally disagree, and strongly disagree. Results: Of 290 students, 270 (93.1%) [148 males and 122 females] completed the questionnaire and were included in the analysis. Overall, 55.6% strongly disagreed that homosexuality was an illness; 70.8% agreed that homosexuals were capable of forming stable relationships. Only 31.1% believed that homosexual doctors would better understand homosexual patients. About 71.8% reported that talking about homosexuality did not embarrass them, and 81.8% believed that problems associated with homosexuality could be reduced if society was more liberal. Nonetheless, negative attitudes were reflected in the stereotypical image of homosexuality. About 15.9% of respondents believed that homosexuality was an illness; 24.8% considered homosexuals neurotic, 28.1% considered homosexuals promiscuous; and 8.2% thought that they posed a danger to children. Conclusion: Although the overall attitude of Indian medical students towards homosexuality is positive, the percentage of students with negative attitudes remains quite high. Further work on the medical curriculum is needed to change these negative attitudes so that patients receive appropriate care.