Transgender people and travestis experiencing homelessness in Salvador: a descriptive study on sociodemographic profile and access to social assistance and health services, Brazil, 2021 and 2022.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the sociodemographic profile and access to social assistance and health services among trans people and travestis experiencing homelessness in Salvador, the capital city of Bahia state.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study involving 24 (4.5%) participants who identified as trans people or travestis out of a total of 529 people, aged 18 or older, living in public spaces or institutional shelters included in the survey. Data were collected between 2021 and 2022, using structured questionnaires.

RESULTS

The sample was predominantly comprised of trans women and travestis (n=18), young individuals (n=13), of Black race/skin color (n=22), single individuals (n=18) and those engaged in informal occupations (n=23), many of whom reported experiencing violence (n=17). Frequent barriers to accessing healthcare and social assistance services were found (n=15), including lack of documentation, delay in service provision and social/racial discrimination.

CONCLUSION

The findings highlight the heightened vulnerability of transgender people and travestis experiencing homelessness, who are subjected to multiple forms of discrimination and social exclusion.