Access to healthcare services for transgender people in South Africa : assessing healthcare experiences and human rights

dc.contributor.authorZambezi, Denise
dc.contributor.authorViljoen, Frans
dc.contributor.emailfrans.viljoen@up.ac.zaen_US
dc.date.accessioned2025-03-10T12:23:31Z
dc.date.available2025-03-10T12:23:31Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.descriptionThe article is based on findings from a doctoral thesis (‘A socio-legal perspective on the right of transgender persons to access healthcare in South Africa’) by Denise Zambezi, completed at the University of Pretoria (Faculty of Law, 2022) under the supervision of Professor Frans Viljoen. (URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2263/91765)en_US
dc.descriptionDATA SHARING AND ACCESSIBLITY : The authors are willing to make their data, analytic methods, and study materials available to other researchers upon enquiry to the corresponding author provided this does not compromise other ongoing unpublished research.en_US
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND : The transgender population is one of the most marginalized and misunderstood population groups in South Africa. Despite a progressive and inclusive human rights-based legal framework, transgender people in South Africa are vulnerable to multiple human rights violations, including inequality and grave healthcare disparities. AIMS : This study aims to assess the healthcare disparities experienced by transgender persons in South Africa. In South Africa, transgender people are legally entitled to equality and the right to access healthcare services. The article examines sparsely explored discrepancies and recommends how a transgender person’s right to access healthcare can be strengthened through a comprehensive human rights approach. METHODS : The methodology involved semi-structured interviews with transgender respondents and healthcare experts. The sample comprised 43 transgender respondents aged between 23 and 45 residing in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, North West and the Western Cape and a multi-disciplinary group of nine healthcare professionals working in South African health institutions. The data was analyzed through relevant thematic analysis. RESULTS : The majority of transgender participants and healthcare experts reported that there are transgender-related inequalities in the healthcare system, including stigma and discrimination, exclusionary and culturally incompetent health services and limited availability of competent healthcare services. DISCUSSION : There is a need for South Africa to intensify its application of transgender human rights to bridge the gap between lived experiences and the law. Comprehensive and explicit transgender-inclusive laws must be developed. Diverse transgender people must participate in the law and policy-making process. Activism, advocacy, and strategic litigation should be used effectively by relevant parties to create awareness and impact change.en_US
dc.description.departmentCentre for Human Rightsen_US
dc.description.librarianhj2024en_US
dc.description.sdgSDG-03:Good heatlh and well-beingen_US
dc.description.sdgSDG-10:Reduces inequalitiesen_US
dc.description.sdgSDG-16:Peace,justice and strong institutionsen_US
dc.description.urihttps://www.tandfonline.com/journals/WIJTen_US
dc.identifier.citationZambezi, D. & Viljoen, F. 2024, 'Access to healthcare services for transgender people in South Africa : assessing healthcare experiences and human rights', International Journal of Transgender Health, vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 791-803, doi : 10.1080/26895269.2023.2273364.en_US
dc.identifier.issn2689-5269 (print)
dc.identifier.issn2689-5277 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1080/26895269.2023.2273364
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/101428
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherTaylor and Francisen_US
dc.rights© 2024 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. This is an electronic version of an article published in International Journal of Transgender Health, vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 791-803, 2024, doi : 10.1080/26895269.2023.2273364.. International Journal of Transgender Health is available online at : https://www.tandfonline.com/journals/WIJT.en_US
dc.subjectHealth care accessibilityen_US
dc.subjectTransgender healthcareen_US
dc.subjectTransgender health care accessen_US
dc.subjectTransgender health rightsen_US
dc.subjectTransgender human rightsen_US
dc.subjectTransgender populationen_US
dc.subjectSDG-03: Good health and well-beingen_US
dc.subjectSDG-10: Reduced inequalitiesen_US
dc.subjectSDG-16: Peace, justice and strong institutionsen_US
dc.titleAccess to healthcare services for transgender people in South Africa : assessing healthcare experiences and human rightsen_US
dc.typePostprint Articleen_US

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