Hormone Consumption Pattern In Hijra Community In India

Abstract

Introduction: The Hijra community in India is well known throughout the country, with different names across the 
different regions. The Hijra community undergoes a lot of turmoil for their existence. The lack of doctors 
performing gender reassignment surgeries or therapies is a worldwide phenomenon, which eventually pushes the 
transgender towards self-prescription of hormones. In Hijra community the non –prescribed hormone users are at 
high risk of health problems resulting from improper dosing and a lack of monitoring. One of the major reasons for 
self-prescription is non availability of health care system like gender transition clinics or support system in India.  
Methodology: a descriptive cross sectional research design was implemented to achieve the framed objectives. 
Quantitative approach was used to gather information regarding their general demographic profile, extent of 
hormone use within the community, to ascertain their knowledge attitude and practices associated with use of 
hormones. Results: 84.4% of the respondents reported that they knew about feminization procedures, 10% said no 
and 3.7% said they did not know. The respondents were asked if they know hormones can bring about any physical 
change to which 95.6% reported yes and 04% said no. The 58 respondents who are either consuming hormones now 
or had a history of hormone consumption, 37.8% of them take hormones in form of injections, 13.3% in form of 
injections and OCP, 7.8% in form of injections and tablets, 2.2% in form of tablets, 1.1% in form of OCP, 1.1% in 
form of creams and the last 1.1% in form of cream and tablets. Conclusion: The community is completely relying on 
informal networks such as quacks and dealers in fulfilling their needs for feminization and aiding these procedures, 
which not only puts their life at stake for developing chronic irreversible conditions but also can lead to death.