Work

Medical Tourism for Gender Identity Affirmation: Transgender Perspectives

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Medical tourism offers specialized healthcare services and leisure opportunities, serving as a critical journey for transgender individuals seeking gender affirmation. Drawing upon social identity framework, gender affirmation contributes to membership and belongingness within a gender group, enhancing social acceptance. Medical tourism is often the only option for some transgender individuals due to local social stigma and discrimination, exposing them to greater vulnerability. However, there is limited research that explores transgender perspectives. This study deploys planned behavior and protection motivation theories to identify influential factors in transgender medical travel intentions. Employing a structured survey, rigorously designed and distributed among 435 Thai and Filipino transgender participants, the research quantitatively assessed how attitudes, norms, efficacy, and identity factors significantly influence their decisions, overshadowing health threat perceptions. Findings suggest responsible strategies that promote holistic transgender well‐being and highlight the need for a nuanced approach when navigating sociocultural and legal dynamics in transgender medical tourism.

Source: International Journal of Tourism Research

DOI: 10.1002/jtr.2805

Authors: Antony King Fung Wong, Thanakarn Bella Vongvisitsin, Brenda Rodriguez Alegre

Institutions: Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, University of Hong Kong

Language: English

Topic: Global Healthcare and Medical Tourism

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Hong Kong Polytechnic University