Association of Discrimination and Violence With Suicidality Among <i>Travestis</i> and Transgender Women in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2015‒2023: A Cross-Sectional Study
<b>Objectives.</b> To examine the associations between discrimination, violence, and suicidality among <i>travestis</i> and transgender women in Brazil. <b>Methods.</b> We analyzed baseline data from the <i>Transcendendo</i> cohort (2015-2023) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which enrolled <i>travestis</i> and transgender women aged 18 years and older. We assessed lifetime discrimination by using an 8-item scale reflecting transgender-related mistreatment experiences. We also measured physical and sexual violence, sociodemographics, and psychosocial factors. We categorized suicidality as no ideation, ideation only, and ideation with attempts, analyzed using a multivariable ordinal regression model. <b>Results.</b> Among 662 participants, lifetime discrimination (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11, 1.32; <i>P</i> < .001) and lifetime sexual assault (AOR = 1.60; 95% CI = 1.17, 2.19; <i>P</i> = .003) were significantly associated with increased odds of suicidality. Participants with positive body self-satisfaction, HIV, and increasing age had lower odds of suicidality. <b>Conclusions.</b> Our findings highlight the need for antidiscriminatory policies and health services tailored to the needs of this community to mitigate suicidality risk among <i>travestis</i> and transgender women in Brazil. (<i>Am J Public Health</i>. 2026;116(2):261-269. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2025.308280).
Authors
- David Richer Araujo Coelho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4217-2399)
- A. Araújo
- Isabele Moura (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2435-0254)
- Ruth Khalili Friedman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3330-0830)
- Mônica Freiman de Souza Ramos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0775-3833)
- Beatriz Gilda Jegerhorn Grinsztejn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3692-5155)
- Carolina Coutinho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9005-8171)
- Cristina Moreira Jalil (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8845-3965)
- Emília Moreira Jalil (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6017-5660)
- Eduardo Mesquita Peixoto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5699-7290)
- Sari L. Reisner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7868-4746)
- Sandra Cardoso Wagner
- Alex S. Keuroghlian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6624-8354)
- Valdilea Gonçalves Veloso (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6622-3165)
- Bolivia Fernandes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-1933-7620)
- Livia Ferreira
- Thaylla Vianna
Institutions
- Demos (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- American Journal of Public Health
- Published
- 2025-12-04
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.2025.308280
- Primary Topic
- LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00