Characteristics of the pediatric population with gender incongruence attending specialized care in Cali, Colombia: an observational, descriptive and retrospective study
Abstract Background Gender incongruence can often manifest itself from early childhood [Olson KR, Gülgöz S. Child Dev Perspect. 2018;12:93–7. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12268 ] with a significant psychological impact, altering social and school dynamics without the appropriate care.[Tordoff DM, et...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-023-00689-6 |
| _version_ | 1797363645513990144 |
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| author | Kenny Gutiérrez Mabel Moreno Jimena Alexandra Sierra Rodrigo Lemus Karen Apraez Mario Jr. Angulo |
| author_facet | Kenny Gutiérrez Mabel Moreno Jimena Alexandra Sierra Rodrigo Lemus Karen Apraez Mario Jr. Angulo |
| author_sort | Kenny Gutiérrez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Gender incongruence can often manifest itself from early childhood [Olson KR, Gülgöz S. Child Dev Perspect. 2018;12:93–7. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12268 ] with a significant psychological impact, altering social and school dynamics without the appropriate care.[Tordoff DM, et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(2): e220978. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.0978 ] Early identification and gender–affirming care are essential to reduce adverse mental health outcomes, such as depression and self-harm [Tordoff DM, et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(2): e220978. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.0978 ]..This study aims to analyze characteristics and to estimate relative frequencies of gender incongruence in a population of children and adolescents receiving gender-affirming care at a high-complexity university hospital located in the third largest city in Colombia. Methods This was a retrospective descriptive study of patients under 18 with gender incongruence that received gender-affirming care between January 2018 and June 2022 at Fundacion Valle del Lili in Cali, Colombia. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of 43 patients were assessed, as well as the relative frequencies of gender incongruence. Data analysis was performed with the statistical package STATA®. To determine significant differences between the characteristics of the patients who participated in the study, the Mann‒Whitney U test was performed for numerical variables with non-parametric distribution, while either Pearson's Chi-2 test or Fisher's exact test was performed for categorical variables. Results For every ten individuals assigned female at birth, who manifested gender incongruence, there were eight assigned male at birth. The median age of onset of gender incongruence was ten years (IQR: 5–13 years), and the median time elapsed between the reported onset of gender incongruence and the first consultation with a multidisciplinary gender-affirming team was three years (IQR: 1–10 years). The frequency of transgender identity was notable in participants with ages between 15 and 17 years. Depressive symptoms, anxiety, and psychotropic drug use were significantly higher in individuals assigned female at birth. Among 25 individuals assigned female at birth who participated in this study, 60% self-recognized as transgender men.18 individuals assigned male at birth, 67% self-recognized as transgender women. The most frequent treatment was a referral to mental health services (46.51%). Conclusion Based on the cohort of our study, we can conclude that patients consult for gender-affirming treatment 3 years after the onset of gender incongruence. Anxiety and depression were higher in individuals assigned female at birth. Additionally, they presented at a later stage of sexual maturation, reducing the possibility of using puberty blockers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:23:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2aa97a0eb01c4ddc9b8c030566e9a884 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1753-2000 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:23:07Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-2aa97a0eb01c4ddc9b8c030566e9a8842024-01-07T12:11:32ZengBMCChild and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health1753-20002024-01-011811710.1186/s13034-023-00689-6Characteristics of the pediatric population with gender incongruence attending specialized care in Cali, Colombia: an observational, descriptive and retrospective studyKenny Gutiérrez0Mabel Moreno1Jimena Alexandra Sierra2Rodrigo Lemus3Karen Apraez4Mario Jr. Angulo5Servicio de Endocrinología pediátrica, Fundación Valle del LiliCentro de Investigaciones Clínicas (CIC), Fundación Valle del LiliCentro de Investigaciones Clínicas (CIC), Fundación Valle del LiliServicio de Endocrinología pediátrica, Fundación Valle del LiliUniversidad Icesi, Facultad de ciencias de la saludServicio de Endocrinología pediátrica, Fundación Valle del LiliAbstract Background Gender incongruence can often manifest itself from early childhood [Olson KR, Gülgöz S. Child Dev Perspect. 2018;12:93–7. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdep.12268 ] with a significant psychological impact, altering social and school dynamics without the appropriate care.[Tordoff DM, et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(2): e220978. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.0978 ] Early identification and gender–affirming care are essential to reduce adverse mental health outcomes, such as depression and self-harm [Tordoff DM, et al. JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(2): e220978. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.0978 ]..This study aims to analyze characteristics and to estimate relative frequencies of gender incongruence in a population of children and adolescents receiving gender-affirming care at a high-complexity university hospital located in the third largest city in Colombia. Methods This was a retrospective descriptive study of patients under 18 with gender incongruence that received gender-affirming care between January 2018 and June 2022 at Fundacion Valle del Lili in Cali, Colombia. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of 43 patients were assessed, as well as the relative frequencies of gender incongruence. Data analysis was performed with the statistical package STATA®. To determine significant differences between the characteristics of the patients who participated in the study, the Mann‒Whitney U test was performed for numerical variables with non-parametric distribution, while either Pearson's Chi-2 test or Fisher's exact test was performed for categorical variables. Results For every ten individuals assigned female at birth, who manifested gender incongruence, there were eight assigned male at birth. The median age of onset of gender incongruence was ten years (IQR: 5–13 years), and the median time elapsed between the reported onset of gender incongruence and the first consultation with a multidisciplinary gender-affirming team was three years (IQR: 1–10 years). The frequency of transgender identity was notable in participants with ages between 15 and 17 years. Depressive symptoms, anxiety, and psychotropic drug use were significantly higher in individuals assigned female at birth. Among 25 individuals assigned female at birth who participated in this study, 60% self-recognized as transgender men.18 individuals assigned male at birth, 67% self-recognized as transgender women. The most frequent treatment was a referral to mental health services (46.51%). Conclusion Based on the cohort of our study, we can conclude that patients consult for gender-affirming treatment 3 years after the onset of gender incongruence. Anxiety and depression were higher in individuals assigned female at birth. Additionally, they presented at a later stage of sexual maturation, reducing the possibility of using puberty blockers.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-023-00689-6Gender incongruenceChildrenAdolescentTransgender |
| spellingShingle | Kenny Gutiérrez Mabel Moreno Jimena Alexandra Sierra Rodrigo Lemus Karen Apraez Mario Jr. Angulo Characteristics of the pediatric population with gender incongruence attending specialized care in Cali, Colombia: an observational, descriptive and retrospective study Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health Gender incongruence Children Adolescent Transgender |
| title | Characteristics of the pediatric population with gender incongruence attending specialized care in Cali, Colombia: an observational, descriptive and retrospective study |
| title_full | Characteristics of the pediatric population with gender incongruence attending specialized care in Cali, Colombia: an observational, descriptive and retrospective study |
| title_fullStr | Characteristics of the pediatric population with gender incongruence attending specialized care in Cali, Colombia: an observational, descriptive and retrospective study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characteristics of the pediatric population with gender incongruence attending specialized care in Cali, Colombia: an observational, descriptive and retrospective study |
| title_short | Characteristics of the pediatric population with gender incongruence attending specialized care in Cali, Colombia: an observational, descriptive and retrospective study |
| title_sort | characteristics of the pediatric population with gender incongruence attending specialized care in cali colombia an observational descriptive and retrospective study |
| topic | Gender incongruence Children Adolescent Transgender |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13034-023-00689-6 |
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