Perception of transgender health care among physicians in northern Chile

Abstract

The demand for health care in transgender people is growing. There is poor information on physician knowledge about the treatment of these people and their needs. A survey was conducted to physician in Chile about their opportunity to care for these people, their knowledge about the rules of treatment of this population, and their perception of access to sexual rehabilitation treatments. 123 respondents, average age 41 years, 56% had attended some transgender people, 4.3% expressed rejection or hatred in that attention, 84% never had any training on the subject in their university education, 96% were interested in receiving information on the subject, 77% are unaware of the existence of treatment regulations for these people, 18% reject health spending in support of their sexual rehabilitation process, 14% would not use the social name in dealing with these patients and 10% would hospitalize a transgender patient according to their biological sex and not according to their felt sex. Physician in Chile receive poor training regarding the treatment and health needs of the transgender population, but are interested in being given information on the subject. The majority are in favor of transgender people having the opportunity to receive medical support in public health care, in their process of reassignment of hormonal and / or surgical sex.