Factors Associated with Transgender-Based Discrimination Among and Transgender Women in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

PURPOSE

Transgender-based discrimination is associated with poor mental health, unemployment, and poverty. and transgender women (trans women) frequently experience transgender-based discrimination, but associated factors are understudied. Our objective was to identify the factors associated with transgender-based discrimination among trans women from Brazil.

METHODS

We used data from Transcendendo, a clinic-based cohort of trans women in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Eligible participants were ≥18 years old, assigned male sex at birth, and self-identified as , transgender women, or other trans feminine identities. We analyzed baseline data for participants enrolled from August 2015 to March 2020. Face-to-face questionnaires collected data on socio-demographics, gender identity and expression, and transgender-based discrimination experience. Factors associated with transgender-based discrimination were evaluated through multivariable linear regression.

RESULTS

Out of the 587 participants, 559 (95%) were included (28 excluded due to missing data). Mean age was 33 years, the majority identified as transgender women (40%), 71% reported current or past sex work, and 43% self-reported as living with HIV. In multivariable regression models, factors significantly associated with transgender-based discrimination included having no supporting or one supporting parental figure (vs. support from both parents), living in poverty (vs. not), and current and past sex work (vs. never).

CONCLUSIONS

Trans women without family support, who engaged in sex work or were economically deprived were more prone to transgender-based discrimination. A lack of parental support, the strongest independent predictor of transgender-based discrimination experiences, likely contributes to emotional and structural vulnerabilities.