Medical Tourism for Gender Identity Affirmation: Transgender Perspectives

Abstract

Medical tourism offers specialized healthcare services and leisure opportunities, serving as a critical journey for transgender individuals seeking gender affirmation. Drawing upon social identity framework, gender affirmation contributes to membership and belongingness within a gender group, enhancing social acceptance. Medical tourism is often the only option for some transgender individuals due to local social stigma and discrimination, exposing them to greater vulnerability. However, there is limited research that explores transgender perspectives. This study deploys planned behavior and protection motivation theories to identify influential factors in transgender medical travel intentions. Employing a structured survey, rigorously designed and distributed among 435 Thai and Filipino transgender participants, the research quantitatively assessed how attitudes, norms, efficacy, and identity factors significantly influence their decisions, overshadowing health threat perceptions. Findings suggest responsible strategies that promote holistic transgender well-being and highlight the need for a nuanced approach when navigating sociocultural and legal dynamics in transgender medical tourism.