Oral health self-perception for transgender people: a controlled cross-sectional study

Sara Gomes  Prates; Romulo Dias  Jesuíno; Luiz Renato  Paranhos; Álex Moreira Herval; Liliane Parreira Tannús  Gontijo

doi:10.14393/BJ-v37n0a2021-55794

Authors

Sara Gomes Prates Consultório particular https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8050-7033
Romulo Dias Jesuíno Universidade Federal de Uberlândia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5559-6372
Luiz Renato Paranhos Universidade Federal de Uberlândia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7599-0120
Álex Moreira Herval Universidade Federal de Uberlândia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6649-2616
Liliane Parreira Tannús Gontijo Universidade Federal de Uberlândia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5762-1591

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14393/BJ-v37n0a2021-55794

Keywords:

Self-Assessment, Transgender Persons, Transvestism.

Abstract

This article aims to verify the use of dental services, oral health self-perception, and the impacts of oral health on the daily lives of transgender people. A controlled cross-sectional study was conducted in which transvestites, transsexuals, and transgender people were compared to cisgender people. For data collection, the oral health self-perception questionnaire was applied to 90 people, from which 45 were cisgender and 45 were transgender. There were no differences regarding access to dental services. The data analysis revealed that transgender people perceive their teeth to cause nervousness (p=0.002) and shame (p=0.033), respectively 3.8 and 5.0 times higher than that observed for cisgender people. Although differences in access were not observed, there was a difference in the perception of the need for treatment and the impacts of oral health. Therefore, it is important to consider that comprehensive care for the transgender population should go beyond the treatment of oral diseases and include aesthetic expectations as well.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

AKHTAR, M. and BILOUR, N. State of mental health among transgender individuals in Pakistan: psychological resilience and self-esteem. Community Mental Health Journal. 2020, 56, 626-634. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-019-00522-5

ALBERSE, A.M.E., et al. Self-perception of transgender clinic referred gender diverse children and adolescents. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2019, 24(2), 388-401. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104518825279

BRASIL. SB Brasil 2010: Pesquisa nacional de saúde bucal: Resultados principais. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde, 2012. Available from: https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/publicacoes/pesquisa_nacional_saude_bucal.pdf

DIAS, A.F. Trans* escrevivências as a pedagogical power. Journal of Research and Knowledge Spreading. 2020, 1(1), e11494. https://doi.org/10.20952/jrks1111494

ESMERIZ, C.E., MENEGHIM, M.C. and AMBROSANO, G.M. Self‐perception of oral health in non‐institutionalised elderly of Piracicaba city, Brazil. Gerodontology. 2012, 29(2), e281-e289. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-2358.2011.00464.x

FREIRE, M.D.C.M., et al. Condição de saúde bucal, comportamentos, autopercepção e impactos associados em estudantes universitários moradores de residências estudantis. Revista Odontologia da UNESP. 2012, 41(3), 185-191.

HUGHTO, J.M.W., REISNER, S.L. and PACHANKIS, J.E. Transgender stigma and health: A critical review of stigma determinants, mechanisms, and interventions. Social Science & Medicine. 2015, 147, 222-231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2015.11.010

JOHNSON, C.V., MIMIAGA, M.J. and BRADFORD, J. Health care issues among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) populations in the United States: Introduction. Journal of Homosexuality. 2008, 54(3), 213-224. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918360801982025

LONGARAY, D.A. and RIBEIRO, P.R.C. Travestis e transexuais: corpos (trans) formados e produção da feminilidade. Revista Estudos Feministas. 2016, 24(3), 761-784. https://doi.org/10.1590/%25xXxxxxxxxx

MACDONALD, D.W., et al. Oral Sex Knowledge and Experience of Transgender Youth: An Opportunity for Dental Education. Journal of Dental Education. 2020, 84(4), 473-477. https://doi.org/10.21815/JDE.019.193

MALTA, M., et al. Iniciativa STROBE: subsídios para a comunicação de estudos observacionais. Revista de Saúde Pública. 2010, 44(3), 559-565. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102010000300021

MELLO, L., et al. Políticas de saúde para lésbicas, gays, bissexuais, travestis e transexuais no Brasil: em busca de universalidade, integralidade e equidade. Sexualidad, Salud y Sociedad. 2011, (9), 7-28. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-64872011000400002

MILAGRES, C.S., et al. Self-perceived oral health status, chewing ability and longevity in the elderly/Condicao de saude bucal autopercebida, capacidade mastigatoria e longevidade em idosos. Ciencia & Saude Coletiva. 2018, 23(5), 1495-1507. https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232018235.14572016

MOREIRA, R.D.S., NICO, L.S., and SOUSA, M.D.L.R.D. Fatores associados à necessidade subjetiva de tratamento odontológico em idosos brasileiros. Cadernos de Saúde Pública. 2009, 25(12), 2661-2671. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2009001200013

MOURA, C., et al. Autoavaliação da saúde bucal e fatores associados entre adultos em áreas de assentamento rural, Estado de Pernambuco, Brasil. Cadernos de Saúde Pública. 2014, 30(3), 611-622. https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X00117012

MURALIDHARAN, S., et al. Dentition status and treatment needs and its correlation with oral health-related quality of life among men having sex with men and transgenders in Pune city: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology: JOMFP. 2018, 22(3), 443. https://doi.org/10.4103/jomfp.JOMFP_187_18

RADIX, A.E., LELUTIU-WEINBERGER, C. and GAMAREL, K.E. Satisfaction and healthcare utilization of transgender and gender non-conforming individuals in NYC: a community-based participatory study. LGBT health. 2014, 1(4), 302-308. https://doi.org/10.1089/lgbt.2013.0042

RUSSELL, S. and MORE, F. Addressing health disparities via coordination of care and interprofessional education: lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health and oral health care. Dental Clinics of North America. 2016, 60(4), 891-906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cden.2016.05.006

SAMUEL, S.R., MURAGABOOPATHY, V. and PATIL, S. Transgender HIV status, self‐perceived dental care barriers, and residents’ stigma, willingness to treat them in a community dental outreach program: Cross‐sectional study. Special Care in Dentistry. 2018, 38(5), 307-312. https://doi.org/10.1111/scd.12315

SILVA, T.O. and RIOS, P.P.S. Gender, sexual diversity and field education: “in rural communities many people do not understand and treat it as a disease”. Journal of Research and Knowledge Spreading. 2020, 1(1), e11418. https://doi.org/10.20952/jrks1111418

da SILVA, R.G.L.B., BEZERRA, W.C. and de QUEIROZ, S.B. Os impactos das identidades transgênero na sociabilidade de travestis e mulheres transexuais. Revista de Terapia Ocupacional da Universidade de São Paulo. 2015, 26(3), 364-372. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2238-6149.v26i3p364-372

World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPAT). Normas de atenção à saúde das pessoas trans e com variabilidade de gênero. 7th ed. East Dundee: World Professional Association for Transgender Health, 2011. Available from: https://www.wpath.org/media/cms/Documents/SOC%20v7/SOC%20V7_Portuguese.pdf