Assessing the Socioeconomic, Physical, and Mental Health Status of Transgender Individuals in the Twin Cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55737/Keywords:
Transgender, Socioeconomic, Descriptive Statistics, Rawalpindi, IslamabadAbstract
Transgender individuals in Pakistan experience persistent social marginalization and unequal access to essential services, including education, employment, healthcare, and social welfare. These challenges often result in adverse socioeconomic conditions and negatively affect physical and psychological well-being. The present study evaluates the socioeconomic circumstances, physical health, and mental health of transgender individuals living in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The target population comprised all transgender individuals residing in these twin cities. Random and snowball sampling techniques were used for sample selection. The total transgender population in Islamabad/Rawalpindi was reported as 1,350 (Govt. of Pakistan, 2023). At a 95% confidence level, a sample of 300 transgender individuals was selected. A questionnaire was developed for data collection, and data were analyzed through descriptive statistics using SPSS-27. The results show that about 40 percent of selected transgender individuals have no formal education, while 30 percent have no job. About 78 percent live in rented houses that are not satisfactory to live in, and 51 percent experienced eviction or denial of housing due to gender identity. More than 66 percent of respondents think it is difficult to access healthcare services, while 37 percent have faced discrimination in healthcare settings. About 84 percent have no access to mental health support. It was found that 17 percent have very poor general health status. Furthermore, 84 percent feel down, depressed, or hopeless more than half the days or nearly every day, while 81 percent report little interest or pleasure in doing things. The study suggests policy measures to improve the socioeconomic and health profile of Pakistan’s transgender community.
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