Role of IoT and Social Networking in Mental Healthcare of Transgender Community During COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Years of social exclusion and economic boycott have left the transgender community with little opportunity to progress in a transphobic world. Begging, street entertaining, paid sex, and other minimal jobs fetch them their daily bread and butter. However, the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic is worse than just a viral infection for them. In this grave situation of social distancing and lockdown, the financial constraints, delay in sex reassignment surgery, lack of medical care for hormonal treatment, and the vacuum created due to the uncertainty amid the pandemic have gradually brought overwhelming levels of stress, helplessness, anxiety, depression, and suicidal risks among them. Fortunately, due to social networking through IoT, they can access information regarding the government schemes for food supply, telemedicine and online video consultations with their healthcare professional, get updated news about COVID-19 prevention, detection, and treatment goals, reduce the distance between their beloved ones through verbal communication and texting, accurate updates on transmission in their region, and information about closures and shutdowns. This brings mental stability among them by eliminating their ignorance about the uncertainty arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. A 20-item measure of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) and ANOVA is used to quantify and measure the statistical significance of the findings in the research work. The pragmatic analysis of data in the study focuses on the role of IoT and social networking in uplifting mental healthcare among the transgender community by minimizing panic and anxiety in the pandemic situation.