Midwives are becoming a cornerstone of comprehensive healthcare for transgender individuals undergoing gender transitions in Chile, according to elmostrador.cl.
As gender transition processes become a key pillar of integral health, midwifery services are providing essential access to information, orientation, and rights-based care.
Beyond clinical procedures like Pap smears, ultrasounds, and intrauterine device management, midwives serve as primary points of contact for those navigating identity changes.
Expanding clinical support
This role extends to providing guidance on gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) and other medical options tailored to individual needs.
Recent data from the National Institute of Statistics shows that 60,664 people aged 18 and older identified as trans or non-binary in the 2024 Census.
Of this group, 31,955 identified as transmasculine, 13,314 as transfeminine, and 15,395 as non-binary, alongside other diverse identities.
Tamini Aguirre, a midwife at APROFA, stated that all medical care must incorporate a gender and human rights perspective.
“It is especially necessary to highlight care experiences that promote access, trust in health teams, and the exercise of rights, especially considering persistent barriers and the scenario of misinformation and myths surrounding trans health,” Aguirre said.
Access to clear, prejudice-free information remains a primary challenge in the sector.
Midwifery services help identify specific needs and resolve doubts for patients deciding whether to start, continue, or rethink their transition processes.
“Since not all spaces provide comprehensive care with a human rights focus, APROFA seeks to inform how these services should be, so that users can know them, demand them, and institutions can implement them correctly,” Aguirre added.
Advocates for sexual and reproductive health argue that moving toward comprehensive care requires more than just expanding medical services.
It demands a transformation in how care is understood, challenging existing prejudices to ensure non-discriminatory access to the healthcare system.
