Module Background

Drawing from global and regional research and  guidance on the health of trans and gender-diverse people, APTN’s Towards Transformative Healthcare (TTHM) Module, uses a rights-based approach to health to empower trans people to know and claim their rights and health professionals to be knowledgeable and support trans individuals along their medical journey. 

In creating a module that specifically addresses the Asia and Pacific region, we are able to highlight important nuances and create a resource that provides culturally sensitive and thoughtful healthcare that can be applied throughout the region. This Module departs from pathologising healthcare models, and moves towards transformative, community-centered, rights-based healthcare, while recognising the diverse range of laws, medicine, and resources that are available in the region.

This resource echoes the approach taken in the Standards of Care (SOC) developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) by emphasizing core principles that can be applied in by health professionals even in areas with limited resources and training opportunities (Coleman et al, 2012). It also notes that ensuring trans people have access to acceptable and quality healthcare services, including gender-affirming healthcare, is vital in order to achieve HIV epidemic control for this key population. 

Available in multiple formats:

  • The Learning Handbook

    A hard-copy of APTN’s Towards Transformative Healthcare Module, the handbook is a great resource for Health Care Providers, including Peer Providers, to have on hand. The handbook includes self-reflection exercises, with space in the book to think, answer, and reflect on your learnings. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16eF3chijFC6ZjvRN1fofcVPrOxz2LU57?usp=share_link

  • The Online Course

    Offered on Thinkific, the Trans Health and Rights Module, is built to be self-paced and interactive course, with different lesson types, self-reflection exercises, practice points and additional resources so that you can employ the lessons from the module into your own practice.

  • The Trans Health Toolkit

    A set of complimentary powerpoints following the Trans Health and Rights Module, that can be used in trans health workshops. Currently available in English and 8 languages. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1sduAQywmj-FRWOjJmLCO-vKAHGnfJZPT?usp=share_link

Development of the Resource

Trans organisations and health providers came together in collaboration from across the region to develop a rights-based, community-centered approach to providing trans-competent healthcare.

Before starting to create this resource, APTN reached out to health professionals and trans community leaders across the region who advocate for trans people’s access to healthcare. They were sent a short survey to identify the topics that should be included in the resource and to suggest possible material to incorporate into this module. 

The draft module went through two rounds of peer review. APTN is immensely grateful to all the peer reviewers, including health professionals, community members, technical advisors and more from over 5 countries.

This resource was developed with support from the Global Equality Fund (GEF) and Robert Carr Fund for Civil Society Networks (RCF).

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