IFGH 2010: Access and Barriers to Health Services Experienced by the Hijra in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Category:
November 30, 2010

The hijra community are an ostracised male-to-female community within Bangladesh society. This study examined where the hijra access health services and highlighted the barriers they experience. It explored whether health organisations catered for hijra and what services they provided. It also looked at unmet health needs experienced by this community. This research took place in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Ten hijra participants took part in in-depth interviews and five key-informant interviews were carried out with organisations that provided health services. Two focus groups took place with five junior hijra and five senior hijra who had undergone castration or urethral reconstruction. Heterogeneity sampling and conventional content analysis were used.

This community have access to very good STI/HIV health services, although this does not cover Hepatitis. They experience barriers in relation to general and transitioning health services, including geographical proximity, discrimination, financial constraints and community politics. These barriers were reflected in their choice of healthcare provider. This can result in receiving improper treatment or undergoing risky procedures.

Like other transgender communities, they experience discrimination which has a ripple effect on their access to healthcare. Their specific culture, hierarchy and community systems need to be taken into account by those who are working with them.

 

Download

 

CATEGORIES

RECENT POSTS

SOT Pre-Conference Event 2025

  Date: February 10th, 2025 Location: Centre for...

Global Health Emodules

Welcome to the Training Gateway of IGHN The Global Health...

The Buddy Bus – An Innovation for Youth Mental Health

The Buddy Bus – An Innovation for Youth Mental Health...

Innovation is key – How can we achieve it? 

Innovation is key – How can we achieve it?  By...

IGHN Partnerships Programme Grant Round 2024

The IGHN Partnerships Programme (formerly the ESTHER...

SEARCH HERE

Subscribe to Newsletter

Sign up to become a member and receive our weekly updates