Factors associated with primary healthcare provider access among trans and non-binary immigrants, refugees, and newcomers in Canada

Objective: Trans and non-binary (TNB) immigrants, refugees, and newcomers (IRN) face intersecting challenges and barriers, including stigma and persecution in countries of origin, and others unique to the Canadian resettlement process. The present study aimed to investigate factors that are associated with having a primary healthcare provider among TNB IRN.

Design: Trans PULSE Canada was a community-based, national study of health and wellbeing among 2,873 TNB people residing in Canada, aged 14 and older, who were recruited using a multi-mode convenience sampling approach.. The survey asked questions about identity, community, service access, health – and IRN were asked questions specific to immigration/settlement.

Results: Of the 313 IRN participants who completed the full survey version (age M = 34.1, SE=0.75), 76.4 % had a primary healthcare provider. TNB IRN largely reported being Canadian citizens (59.8 %), gender non-binary or similar (46.9 %), currently living in Ontario (35.5 %), and having immigrated from the United States (32.1 %). Chi-square analyses revealed that having a primary healthcare provider was associated with age, gender identity, citizenship status, region of origin, current location in Canada, length of time since immigrating to Canada, status in gender affirming medical care, and having extended health insurance. With modified Poisson regression, we found that TNB IRN who were non-permanent residents, originating from European, African, and Oceania regions, or living in Quebec and the Prairie provinces were less likely to have a primary healthcare provider.

Conclusion: Results may inform settlement organizations of the unique needs and barriers of TNB IRN. Schools and LGBTQ+ organizations may better serve this population – especially those originating from highlighted regions, who live in Quebec or the Prairie provinces, and/or are non-permanent residents – by offering programs that connect them to primary healthcare providers who are competent in cross-cultural trans health.

Cite this article: Ghabrial, M., Ferguson, T., Scheim, A., Adams, J., Khatoon, M., Bauer, G. (2024). Factors associated with primary healthcare provider access among trans and non-binary immigrants, refugees, and newcomers in Canada. Journal of Migration and Health https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmh.2024.100241