Evaluating the Health of Transgender Adults in Rhode Island: A Five-Year Population-Based Analysis

Transgender individuals experience social and structural marginalization that can have a significant impact on physical and mental health. While prior studies have explored health disparities across various settings in the United States, not much is known about the health of the transgender population in Rhode Island. The purpose of this analysis was to understand the health issues faced by transgender adults in RI.

Data are from the 2020-2024 Rhode Island Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (RI BRFSS), an annual telephone survey of non-institutionalized adults. Five years of data were pooled and weighted to provide average yearly population estimates. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the prevalence of various health outcomes among transgender adults compared to cisgender adults.

Overall, 1.0% of Rhode Island adults identified as transgender. After adjusting for age and race/ethnicity, transgender adults had more than three times the odds of reporting fair/poor overall health and frequent mental distress, nearly three times the odds of reporting a history of depression, and more than four times the odds of having any disability. Transgender and cisgender adults had similar rates of health insurance coverage, having a primary care provider, and having a medical checkup in the past year.

This analysis demonstrates persistent health disparities among transgender adults in RI. Continued surveillance, affirming clinical practices, intentional screening, improved access to behavioral and gender-affirming care, and supportive policies are necessary to improve the health of transgender adults in RI.