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Discrimination, exclusion and violence in Ecuador's health system: A transgender-cisgender comparison
Victoria Jácome-Vallejo1, Diego Rosado1, Belén Intriago1
1Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Espíritu Santo, Samborondón, Guayas, Ecuador.
Abstract:
To assess disparities in healthcare acceptability between transgender and cisgender adults in Ecuador by analyzing experiences of discrimination, exclusion, and violence. This retrospective study used data from the 2012 'GLBTI' (gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, transsexual, intersex) Living Conditions Survey by the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC) in Ecuador. Logistic regression assessed associations between gender identity (transgender vs. cisgender) and three outcomes: discrimination, exclusion, and violence. Odds ratios (ORs), standard errors (SEs), and p-values were calculated, adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic confounders. Transgender individuals were more likely than cisgender individuals to experience discrimination (OR = 11.56, SE = 1.55, p < 0.001), exclusion (OR = 7.61, SE = 1.79, p < 0.001), and violence (OR = 8.89, SE = 1.99, p < 0.001). Additional risk factors included residence in coastal regions and involvement in sex work, further exacerbating disparities. Transgender adults in Ecuador face disproportionately high risks of discrimination, exclusion, and violence in healthcare. These structural inequities undermine equitable access and worsen health vulnerabilities, demanding urgent policy attention. Training for healthcare providers, stigma-reduction campaigns, and structural reforms are needed to ensure inclusive, equitable healthcare for transgender populations in Ecuador and beyond.
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