Looptijd: 1-6-2021 - 1-6-2022
The Amsterdam Transclinic, a co-led initiative aiming at optimizing sexual health care provision and understanding unmet health care needs among transgender persons who lack access to standard health services
To develop, conduct and evaluate the pilot project ´the Amsterdam Transclinic´, which is a collaboration between community-led transgender organization Trans United and the center for sexual health of the Public Health Service of Amsterdam. The aim of the project is to improve access to health care for transgender people who have difficulties in accessing available routine sexual health care and support, e.g. those who are homeless, have an asylum seeker status, are undocumented, or are sex worker,. The Transclinic offers integrated support and care in the field of sexual health (prevention and curative), psychosocial support, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), mental health support and referral to HIV-care, and other health care as needed.
For the research part, we will start with setting up a database, start data collection and analyse information from the first visit. In a later phase, which is not included in this project proposal, we will set up longitudinal data collection and analysis, and perform more in-depth qualitative research.
Research Questions
1 Characteristics and outcomes
a. To assess socio-democraphic characteristics, medical history, gender dysphoria diagnosis, mental, social and physical transitioning, sexual behavior, partner types, sexualized drug use and prevalence of HIV and STI (chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis) at the first visit to the Transclinic
b. To assess current or previous use of informally obtained hormones and the sources of those hormones, or the intention to use informally obtained hormones
c. To assess uptake of STI/HIV testing and PrEP, of HRT, (psycho)social, psychological and legal services and to assess linkage to first or second line care, and their determinates during the first visit in the clinic
2. Needs assessment and barriers for linkage to care
a. Through questionnaires, perform a needs assessment regarding healthcare and related (psycho)social, psychological and legal services, and levels of trust in services provided by various health organizations including public health (GGD) centers for sexual health, prostitution and health centers, community organisations, and gender dysphoria expertise centers
b. An appraisal of the infrastructure and possible barriers to linkage to care and to develop pathways for improving referral procedures.
3. Evaluation of the processes of a co-led project
a. To evaluate experiences with a co-led project and the value of peer-to-peer support among both organisations involved, and the persons who use the services