Use of industrial liquid silicone to transform the body: prevalence and factors associated with its use among transvestites and transsexual women in São Paulo, Brazil

Thiago Pestana Pinto, Flavia do Bonsucesso Teixeira, Claudia Renata dos Santos Barros, Ricardo Barbosa Martins, Gustavo Santa Roza Saggese, Daniel Dutra de Barros, Maria Amelia de Sousa Mascena Veras

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of use of industrial liquid silicone (ILS) among transvestite persons and transsexual women and identify associated factors. This was a cross-sectional study in seven municipalities in São Paulo State, Brazil, with data collected in 2014 and 2015 in a sample of 576 individuals. Analysis of the associated factors used a Poisson model with robust variance to estimate the crude and adjusted prevalence ratios. Prevalence of use of ILS was 49%, mean age at first injection of ILS was 22 (± 5.3) years, and 43% reported health problems resulting from its use. Having less than a university education, age 20 years and older, self-identification as transvestite, and sex work were positively associated with use of ILS according to the multivariate model. There was a high prevalence of ILS use and resulting health problems, indicating the need to prevent its use and reduce the resulting health problems. It is thus essential to ensure access to the necessary resources for body changes during transition through comprehensive care for transvestites and transsexual persons in the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS). Finally, health policies should include demands for body changes as part of gender identity construction, respecting each person's unique needs in this transition process.