We know that access to trans healthcare not only differs within European countries but also between European countries. These differences can lead to some people experiencing more barriers to care than other which is an inequitable approach to care provision. In this paper, we aimed to describe the access to trans specific healthcare across Europe (Including the UK) and to find out which countries operate in a similar manner to each other. In doing this, we hoped to understand what types of care might exist and how they might correspond to important care related factors such as waiting times and the sociopolitical climate.
In this research, we identified 4 clusters of countries. We labelled the first cluster as centralized conservative (E.g., The U.K) and the second as centralized reformist (E.g. Sweden). Both groups of countries mainly deliver care through one central institution and have high treatment supply. However, they differ because countries in cluster one have more stringent regulations to access care such as requiring a diagnosis, and have less policy in place to protect trans rights compared to countries in cluster two. Cluster three is labelled as decentralised marketized (E.g. Austria). In these countries, care is mostly offered by independent and more specialised clinics. However, the care is not well regulated and the standard of care often depends on the demand for treatments and competition between different providers. The fourth cluster of countries was labelled as underdeveloped (E.g., Poland) as in these countries there were low levels of treatment supply and little to no policy in place to protect trans rights in these countries. Waiting times for care were significantly different between groups of countries, with group 1 having longer waiting times than the rest. On the other hand, public support for trans people was lowest in cluster four, echoed by the finding that people felt they had to conceal their gender identity the most in underdeveloped (cluster four) countries.
Want to know more about this research? You can read further in the infographic below or in the scientific publication.
