Disparities in Healthcare Services and Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy Among Chinese Transgender Men by Age,Education,Economy,and Region

Abstract

Purpose:

This study aimed to analyze disparities in healthcare services for Chinese transgender men across multiple dimensions: age, education level, economic status, and region.

Methods:

This cross-sectional study examined healthcare disparities among Chinese transgender men between November 2022 and May 2023. A structured questionnaire assessed four domains: demographics (age, education, income, and region); healthcare access; hormone therapy status and barriers; and medication practices. Participants were recruited through medical institutions and WeChat platforms, with snowball sampling used to augment recruitment. Data were analyzed using R software. Analyses employed descriptive statistics to characterize the sample and chi-square tests to evaluate group differences, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Results:

The study revealed patterns in healthcare access and hormone therapy utilization among Chinese transgender men. Transgender men with higher education levels predominantly obtained transgender-related information through digital peer networks. Transgender men with income reported heightened concerns about medication safety, whereas those without income emphasized affordability challenges. Furthermore, transgender men in central and western China demonstrated a greater reliance on online pharmacy purchases and expressed heightened concerns regarding medication efficacy.

Conclusions:

Healthcare access, hormone therapy choices, and medication procurement practices among Chinese transgender men require substantial improvement. This is particularly urgent for minors, individuals without a university education, those without a stable income, and residents of central and western regions.