Mental health, substance use, experiences of violence, and access to health care among transgender and non-binary people during the COVID-19 lockdown in Argentina

Abstract

Background: Lockdown measures are effective to control COVID-19 spread; however, concerns have increased regarding its impact on transgender and non-binary people.

Aims: This study describes self-reported changes in mental health, substance use, experiences of violence, and access to health care and basic services among transgender and non-binary population from Argentina after two months of implementation of the lockdown.

Methods: An online national survey was responded by 182 participants (72 transfeminine [TF], 66 transmasculine [TM], 44 non-binary [NB] people) between May and June 2020. The questionnaire was informed by the results of focus groups, reviewed by activists, and disseminated through social media. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data.

Results: The COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown have had a general negative impact on the participants. TF participants reported a greater proportion of negative changes in the socioeconomic aspect, such as reduction in income and barriers to access basic services (housing, food, hygiene products and financial assistance). TM and NB participants reported higher proportions of adverse psychological impact, with high frequencies of intense negative emotions and suicidal ideation. A general reduction in substance use was observed in the three groups. The most frequent source of violence in the three groups was from a family member, especially among NB participants. Half of the TF and TM individuals reported difficulties to access or continue their hormone therapy. TM and NB participants reported considerable barriers to access mental health care.

Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic and the prolonged lockdown have had a negative impact on the transgender and NB population, aggravating their preexisting situation of vulnerability and exclusion. Furthermore, this impact affected each subgroup differently in a particular and specific way.

Keywords:

• Argentina
• COVID-19
• health care
• lockdown
• mental health
• non-binary
• transgender

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the participants and collaborators: Asociación de Travestis, Transexuales y Transgéneros de Argentina (A.T.T.T.A) and Asociación Civil Hotel Gondolin; without whom this study would not have been possible.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.