Grant: Project Grant

Transgender adolescents and youth experience high rates of stigma, discrimination, and identity-based rejection leading to poor health outcomes, including suicidality, substance use, depression, and anxiety. However, general health and healthcare utilization continues to be among the most understudied areas in transgender research, especially among transgender adolescents and youth. The goal of this mixed-methods study is to build a comprehensive understanding of the specific health outcomes, healthcare utilization patterns, experiences accessing the healthcare system, and health needs among transgender adolescents and youth (12-24 years) accessing gender-affirming care in Ontario, by utilizing administrative health data and in-depth one-on-one interviews. During the first phase of this study, we propose to identify 3,000 transgender adolescents and youth through data obtained from community and hospital clinics, which will be linked with administrative health data to examine the health outcomes and healthcare utilization patterns among transgender youth. During the second phase, we will conduct in-depth one-on-one interviews with a group of 60 transgender adolescents and youth to explore their reflections and understand the phase one quantitative results in more depth. This proposed study will be the first in Canada to identify transgender adolescents and youth within population-based health administrative data and investigate their health outcomes and healthcare utilization patterns. This project has the potential to transform existing services for adolescents and youth and provide evidence-informed recommendations for new and improved medical and social services for transgender youth. Findings will be used to make recommendations for the development of affirming and inclusive health services and/or interventions that support transgender youth to grow and develop into healthy adults.