Observational study assesses healthcare perceptions in trans individuals, indicating gaps and discrimination in services.
Introdution To assess the perception of trans people about the physical and mental impacts of health care in Ceará, Brazil, considering any level of care and health service. Methods This is an observational, cross-sectional, quantitative study, carried out between 09/2024 and 01/2025, in the state of Ceará, Brazil. The population included trans people aged 18 or over, residing in the state. Participants were recruited via social media through an online questionnaire with informed consent. Data collection occurred via Google Forms and the analysis was descriptive and inferential. Results The sample consisted of 210 people, predominantly aged between 19 and 23. Regarding gender identity, 42% identified as trans men, 27% as non-binary, 26% as trans women. 80% of participants reported that their relationship with professionals influences their lives, but only 49.5% evaluated this impact as positive. The quality of care was considered “reasonable” by 47.6%, “good” by 23% and “very good” by 6.2%. Furthermore, 60.5% reported fear of discrimination when seeking care. Racial disparities were observed, as 57.4% of white trans people reported errors in the use of their social name and pronouns, this rate was higher among brown (71.4%) and black (76.6%) trans people. 70.5% of participants had never received specialized services for trans people, highlighting the need for training professionals at different levels of care. Physicians were the professionals most mentioned in reports of transphobia (70%), followed by nurses (45.7%) and psychologists (31.9%). Conclusion The results indicate gaps in care for the trans population in various health services, reflecting exclusionary and unwelcoming care. Difficulty in creating bonds and fear of discrimination can negatively impact adherence to treatments. Analysis of racial disparities reinforces the need for more equitable care. To improve care, it is essential to invest in public policies that ensure more inclusive healthcare. Financing No conflict.
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Britto et al. (2026) studied this question.
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