Catlow Carmella, Goffin Sarah, Cunningham Vicki, Abraham Ashley, Grant Cameron
Whangarei Hospital, Te Whatu Ora-Health New Zealand Te Tai Tokerau, Northland, New Zealand.
Starship Children's Hospital, Te Whatu Ora-Health New Zealand Te Toka Tumai Auckland, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
J Paediatr Child Health. 2025 Jul;61(7):1122-1127. doi: 10.1111/jpc.70078. Epub 2025 May 23.
Gender diverse tamariki and rangitahi (children and young people) have unique medical care needs. It is essential that this group receives timely and individualised care, provided locally and includes access to psychological support. We sought to describe the health needs and management of young people accessing Paediatric Hauora Tāhine (Transgender Health) services in the Te Tai Tokerau region of Aotearoa (New Zealand).
A retrospective review of referrals and secondary care records of all patients referred to Te Tai Tokerau General Paediatric Department for Hauora Tāhine care from 1 January 2020 to 30 June 2023. Medical management provided, time to first assessment, access to mental health support, and fertility counselling were described.
Forty-five young people living in this region received Hauora Tāhine care. Mean (range) age at referral was 13 (8-15) years. Ten (22%) were Māori. Twenty-seven (60%) had co-existing mental health diagnoses and 5 (11%) had had a previous suicide attempt. Fourteen (31%) had possible or confirmed autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Median (interquartile range) time from referral to first specialist appointment was 90 (53-157) days. All received psychological support. Fifteen (33%) did not require medical treatment to affirm gender identity. Twenty-one (68%) had pubertal suppression with Lucrin and 10 (36%) with other menstrual suppressants. Gender-affirming hormone treatment was prescribed to 11 (24%), who also had prior psychology assessment and fertility discussions.
Gender diverse young people require a range of treatments to support their gender identity. There is a high level of co-existing mental health needs and ASD in this group.
性别多元的儿童和青少年有独特的医疗护理需求。这一群体获得及时、个性化的护理至关重要，护理应在当地提供，并包括获得心理支持。我们试图描述在新西兰北地地区使用儿科毛利健康（跨性别健康）服务的年轻人的健康需求和管理情况。
对2020年1月1日至2023年6月30日期间转诊至北地综合儿科部门接受毛利健康护理的所有患者的转诊和二级护理记录进行回顾性审查。描述了所提供的医疗管理、首次评估时间、获得心理健康支持的情况以及生育咨询情况。
该地区45名年轻人接受了毛利健康护理。转诊时的平均（范围）年龄为13（8 - 15）岁。10人（22%）为毛利人。27人（60%）同时患有心理健康诊断疾病，5人（11%）曾有过自杀未遂经历。14人（31%）可能或确诊患有自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）。从转诊到首次专科预约的中位（四分位间距）时间为90（53 - 157）天。所有人都获得了心理支持。15人（33%）不需要药物治疗来确认性别认同。21人（68%）使用醋酸亮丙瑞林进行青春期抑制，10人（36%）使用其他月经抑制剂。11人（24%）接受了性别确认激素治疗，他们也都接受过先前的心理评估和生育讨论。
性别多元的年轻人需要一系列治疗来支持他们的性别认同。这一群体中存在高水平的心理健康需求和自闭症谱系障碍。
