Breaking Boundaries: Exploring a New Era in Transgender Health in Pakistan

Abstract

This study, “Breaking Boundaries: Exploring a New Era in Transgender Health in Islamabad, Pakistan,” fills a critical gap by examining the healthcare challenges faced by transgender individuals within the unique socio-cultural setting of Pakistan’s capital. It explores key dimensions such as intersectionality, mental health, cultural competency, legal frameworks, technological innovations, and community empowerment. Adopting a mixed-method design, the qualitative phase uses a phenomenological approach with purposive and convenient sampling, including Gurus’ perspectives, to capture diverse lived experiences. Thematic analysis informs the quantitative phase, which employs stratified random sampling of approximately 385 transgender individuals to ensure demographic representation. A survey instrument, developed from qualitative insights, examines mental health, cultural competency, legal awareness, technology use, and community engagement. Reliability and validity are ensured through SPSS, while ethical considerations emphasize informed consent, confidentiality, and cultural sensitivity. Limitations such as sampling bias are addressed through reflexivity and triangulation. Findings reveal complex factors shaping transgender health and introduce the Transgender Health Equity Index (THEI) as a predictive measure. Policy recommendations highlight legal reforms, cultural competency training, mental health support, technological integration, and community-led initiatives, contributing to inclusive healthcare and reducing disparities in Islamabad.