"I Want to Enter": Aspects That (De)Construct Transgender Individuals' Access to and Experiences With Oral Health Services in Southern Brazil.

Abstract

Transgender persons are those whose identity differs from the sex assigned to them at birth, and they are subject to inequities that affect social relationships, access to education, employment, and healthcare. This study investigated aspects involving access to and utilization of oral health services by transgender persons in a medium-sized city in Southern Brazil. This work is descriptive, qualitative, and cross-sectional. Data collection was conducted with 10 participants using focus groups and analyzed through content analysis. The participants included five trans men, two transgender women, one non-binary transgender woman, and two non-binary persons. Two topics emerged from the group interviews: factors that determine access to oral health services and factors that condition it. The determining factor for access was dental pain, while the conditioning factors were financial conditions, respect for chosen names, prior experiences with oral health services, and expectations regarding gender expression. The aspects involving access to oral health services by transgender people highlight the need for the guarantee of rights, employment and education opportunities, and support from healthcare services and society.