Sexual and mental health of transgender persons in Croatia

Sexual health is defined as a state of physical, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality. It requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality, sexual relationships and gender identity as well as the... [ view full abstract ]

Sexual health is defined as a state of physical, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality. It requires a positive and respectful approach to sexuality, sexual relationships and gender identity as well as the possibility of having pleasurable and safe sexual experiences, free of coercion, discrimination and violence and as such is associated with personal well-being and mental health in general.
Given the diversity of trans persons gender identity and their expression, trans people face frequent infringements of their fundamental rights. Trans people within Croatian suffer from transphobic discrimination, physical and sexual violence and harassment. This specific problem of transgender persons in Croatia is additionally complicated with the fact that there is lack of permanent and systematic education in the field of sexual health and human rights on every level of education system and especially within curricculum of medical and mental health specialists.
Lack of knowledge leads to higher level of discrimination and different kinds of unethical treatment within different systems of care and protection for transgender persons to the degree that trangender persons hesitate to contact or even avoid some of experts.

The aim of this study was to broaden our knowledgment about sexual health of transgender persons, their experience of sexual harrasment and to explore parenting asspirations among transgender population. Authors wanted to mark... [ view full abstract ]

The aim of this study was to broaden our knowledgment about sexual health of transgender persons, their experience of sexual harrasment and to explore parenting asspirations among transgender population. Authors wanted to mark specific problems that transgender persons encounter when seeking mental and health care and support. We were also interested in specific innapropriate behaviours transgender persons experienced in Croatian health system.

This research was conducted online. Survey was quantitative with possibility of open answers that were the focus of qualitative content analysis. The link was posted on 2 Croatian NGO's concerning transgender issues. N= 45... [ view full abstract ]

This research was conducted online. Survey was quantitative with possibility of open answers that were the focus of qualitative content analysis. The link was posted on 2 Croatian NGO's concerning transgender issues. N= 45 transgender persons have participated in this survey. From the N= 45 of transgender participants N= 19 of them are trans females and N= 26 of them are trans males. The majority of our sample, 24 participants live in a large city (population >500 000 inhabitants), 8 of them live in small city (population cca. 100 000 inhabitants), 7 of them live in a small town or village with population less than 10 000 inhabitants and 6 of them live in city with population less than 500 000 inhabitants. The standard of life for most of participants is described as average (22 participants), 13 of them estimated their standard of life as below average. 10 participants have standard of life above average. Concerning level of education, 19 of our participants finished high school and 15 participants with faculty level of education, 7 of them with BA and 2 of our participants have finished only elementary school and also 2 of them have some kind of postgraduate education.

The average level of life satisfaction of our transgender sample is below average level of life satisfaction of Croatian population. There is alarming high number of transgender persons who are engaged in unprotected sex... [ view full abstract ]

The average level of life satisfaction of our transgender sample is below average level of life satisfaction of Croatian population. There is alarming high number of transgender persons who are engaged in unprotected sex practices and who have experience with sexual harassment and even attempts of rape or were raped. The bright point of our results consider high motivation for parenthood.

When talking about sexual violence, 22 of our participants experience sexual harassment such as innapropriate touching, 25 of our participants experienced unwanted sexual statements and sexual attention, while 22 of our... [ view full abstract ]

When talking about sexual violence, 22 of our participants experience sexual harassment such as innapropriate touching, 25 of our participants experienced unwanted sexual statements and sexual attention, while 22 of our participants experienced attempted rape or rape. M2F persons show significantly lower levels of quality of life, but experience significantly higher levels of sexual violence in comparison to the F2M persons in our sample.
Results show that trans men are more satisfied with sexual life than trans women.
When asked about unprotected sex, only 16 participant never participate in unprotected sex, 6 of them never had sex, while 10 participant have unprotected sex often or always.
Results show that the most acceptable way for transgender persons to achieve parenthood is medical assisted reproduction and the second is adopting. Out of 45 participants, only 14 of them reported no innapropriate behaviour from medical staff and experts, while highest level of innapropriate behaviours trans persons experienced from psychiatrist and general practitioners. Participants reveal that discrimination among society and conservative society are the biggest obstacle in accomplishing complete care of trans persons.

Results show that many trans persons are at high risk of poor treatment within Croatian medical and health system. Results concerning sexual health of transgender persons and experienced violence are alarming and call for... [ view full abstract ]

Results show that many trans persons are at high risk of poor treatment within Croatian medical and health system. Results concerning sexual health of transgender persons and experienced violence are alarming and call for further actions in the form of institutional protection, educations in field of sexual health, human rights and preventive actions focused on reducing sexual violence, as well as treatment for persons suffering from sexual trauma. Healthy development of sexual and gender identity and integration of LGBT persons is obvious precondition of healthy psychosexual and psychological development of LGBT persons.