Transgendered women and their access to healthcare in Davao City

• Main Author: Fortuna, Shekinah Mae C.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2015
• Subjects: Transgender women > Medical care > Davao City; Medical care—Utilization; Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/5106
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study describes the access to healthcare of transgendered women in Davao City. This also specifies the access to healthcare of transgendered women in relation to their personal characteristics, socio-cultural environment and awareness of political structures and organizations within the city, and how accessing healthcare affects their view of their health outcomes. Twenty (20) transgendered women from different occupations were interviewed using in-depth interviews, and these are comprised of adults who considered themselves as transgendered women who transitioned from male-to-female, have undergone bodily transformations (HRT included), and currently reside in Davao City. Most of the transgendered women are between the ages of 20-29 the youngest of the transgendered women being 20, while the oldest being 43, with a mean of 24. Majority of the transgendered women were able to attend college, and currently work as BPO workers with an income of P15,000 – P19,000. The findings in the study show that the transgendered women’s occupation greatly influences how they are able to access healthcare. Furthermore, the socio-cultural environment for transgendered women in Davao City provides a safe space for this population to freely express themselves, although there still also exists discrimination amongst some communities and groups. Most transgendered women in Davao City have minimal awareness regarding policies, however most of them are greatly knowledgeable about existing organizations and are actively involved with them. The results also show that transgendered women in Davao City find that access to healthcare providers is easy and the healthcare setting provides a very welcoming and accepting atmosphere for them, and a wide array of options of health services and facilities are provided for them, which make healthcare access more affordable. Aside from this, transgendered women are generally satisfied with how they access healthcare, and consider themselves healthy from how they are able to access