Disclosure of Sexual Orientation Among Women Who Have Sex With Women During Gynecological Care: A Qualitative Study In Brazil

Interactions Between Health Professionals and Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Patients in Healthcare Settings: A Systematic Review

The ways in which health professionals (HPs) interact with individuals from sexual minorities can impact their perception of the health service and influence engagement. This systematic literature review aimed to identify and synthesize the qualitative literature exploring interactions between HPs and lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) patients in healthcare settings. A search strategy was developed and applied to CINAHL and Medline, inclusion criteria were then applied to results by two screeners with good agreement. Thematic analysis was carried out on papers meeting the inclusion criteria in three stages, beginning with coding the text line-by-line, developing descriptive themes and finally, analytical themes. Electronic searches identified 348 papers with 20 of these meeting the inclusion criteria. Thematic analysis found five themes; HPs' lack of knowledge regarding LGB specific issues, identification of sexual orientation, discomfort in interactions, LGB patients' experience of heteronormative attitudes and perceived judgment or other negative attitudes.

Santé sexuelle et reproductive des femmes ayant des rapports sexuels avec des femmes en Suisse

INTRODUCTION

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of lesbians and other women who have sex with women (WSW) remains largely unexplored in Switzerland. A cross-sectional web- and pa-per-based survey was conducted in 2012.

PURPOSE OF RESEARCH

The aim of this study was to gain more knowledge on the SRH of the WSW in French-speaking Switzerland in order to inform preventive activities and promote more adequate SRH services for these women.

RESULTS

Sexual practices between women are very diverse, some of them potentially risky in terms of transmitting various STIs, but 71% of WSW never practice safer sex or other risk reduction strategies for HIV and other STIs with their female partners. Only 69% have had a gynecological check-up in the last 3 years. 16% had one or more children. 29% reported having experienced violence in a lesbian relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

Specific information on SRH should be developed to match the specificities and needs of WSW and more research is needed on their SRH, their risk regarding breast cancer and ways to improve the cultural sensitivity and knowledge of gynecologists and other health care providers towards their lesbian, bisexual and other WSW patients.

Experiences of Violence Against Lesbian and Bisexual Women in Brazil

BACKGROUND

Lesbophobia and biphobia are manifestations of homophobic violence directed at lesbian and bisexual women that results in daily violation of rights and social exclusion.

AIM

To describe experiences of the violence against lesbian and bisexual women in Brazil.

METHODS

Sequential mixed methods study was carried out in 2 stages. In the first one, quantitative, an electronic questionnaire was applied to women from all regions, with questions about sociodemographic characteristics, self-identification and lesbophobic and biphobic events. In the second one, qualitative, lesbian, and bisexual women were interviewed face to face about the violence suffered.

OUTCOMES

The chi-square test was applied to compare violence against lesbian and bisexual women (type of violence, place of aggression, gender and age range of the aggressor, bond with the aggressor, repetition of violence, and denunciation of violence) and the content analysis for qualitative data (main categories of analysis were events of violence, denunciation, and consequences of violence).

RESULTS

The report of violence was present in 65% of the answers. There was a predominance of psychological violence (39.8%), in the public environment (63%), practiced by men (73.2%), by strangers (66.2%) and repeatedly (82%). Lesbian women, compared to bisexuals, were more prone to violence in the public environment (59.5% vs 39.5%) and with repetition (84.3% vs 60.6%). The narratives explained intimidating experiences in the family environment (insults, threat of suicide or homicide and false imprisonment) and public (harassment, beatings, and rape). Discriminatory attitudes, insults, and refusal of service in restaurants and bars were recurrent.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The data provide information that can serve to improve policy initiatives to reduce these episodes.

STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS

This is the first study of mixed methods, with national coverage, on lesbophobia and biphobia events in Brazil. Future studies should include women underrepresented in this research as trans women, non-white, less educated, and from the most distant regions of the country.

CONCLUSION

Lesbophobic or biphobic event has harmful repercussions for multiple aspects of these women's lives, including mental health. Rufino AC, Filho CEWBdeC, Madeiro A. Experiences of Violence Against Lesbian and Bisexual Women in Brazil. Sex Med 2021;XX:XXXXXX.

Access to health services for lesbian women: a literature review

This study explores access to health services for lesbians in the light of current literature. A literature search was conducted using various databases and an interpretive synthesis of the findings of the selected articles was produced anchored in the concepts of habitus and symbolic violence developed by Pierre Bourdieu. Two main themes and their respective units of meaning were identified: (a) barriers and difficulties experienced by lesbians in accessing healthcare (issues related to coming out as a lesbian and difficulties experienced by health services and professionals in dealing with lesbian women); and (b) lesbian women's experiences in health services (unequal care, invisibility, and feeling uncomfortable). We conclude that, despite advances in policy and care protocols, sexual and gender diversity needs to be widely discussed in social, educational, and health settings.

Sexual orientation and gynecologic medical care: A cross-sectional study with Brazilian women

OBJECTIVE

To study a sample of Brazilian lesbian, bisexual, and heterosexual women concerning their gynecologic history and their experience with gynecologic care.

METHODS

An internet-based survey for women aged 18 years or older was conducted to gather epidemiologic data on sexual habits, primary gynecologic diseases, and patient-gynecologist relationships.

RESULTS

The survey was answered by 1201 women, with 571 reporting being heterosexual, 272 lesbian, and 358 bisexual. The lesbian/bisexual (LB) group contained fewer Caucasian individuals, used more public health resources, and had more individuals consuming tobacco, alcohol, and recreational drugs. No significant differences were found in the number of individuals with diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension, and sexually transmitted diseases. Depression was more common in the LB group. Endometriosis and vaginismus were more common in bisexual women, whereas polycystic ovary syndrome was more frequent in lesbians. Questions on the patient-gynecologist relationship revealed that most LB women felt uncomfortable and dissatisfied with the treatment received.

CONCLUSION

The LB group had different epidemiologic characteristics from the heterosexual group. Differences in morbid antecedents were found only in endometriosis, vaginismus, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Most LB Brazilian women are dissatisfied with treatment received from gynecologists.

Where are LGBTT populations in the Family Health Strategy? narratives of health professionals in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil

The populations of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transvestites, and transsexuals (LGBTT) have not had a place in the "official history" of humanity, except as secondary actors that deviate, distort, or even tarnish popular memory, guided by cisheteronormativity. These same subjects often experience obstacles in the care provided by the Family Health Strategy (ESF) within a universal, comprehensive, and equitable system. This paper seeks to analyze experiences narrated by primary care professionals in health care for LGBTT populations in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. This is qualitative research conducted with 32 professionals working at a PHC unit. The analysis was based on three dimensions - relational, organizational, and contextual - inspired by the Giovanella and Fleury theoretical discussion. Primary care, which should be one of those responsible for community health actions and prioritize health promotion and prevention, is the same that has provided denials, violence, and neglect in the care of LGBTT people. Therefore, we selected listening as one of the keys to respecting sexual and gender diversity so that these people are recognized as ESF users.

Abrindo os armários do acesso e da qualidade: uma revisão integrativa sobre assistência à saúde das populações LGBTT

Resumo A pesquisa buscou estudar as situações que condicionam o acesso e a qualidade da assistência à saúde de lésbicas, gays, bissexuais, travestis e transexuais (LGBTT) nos serviços de saúde, a partir de uma revisão integrativa da literatura nacional e internacional, cuja amostra de 41 artigos foi selecionada nas bases PubMed, Lilacs e SciELO, no período entre 2007 e 2018. O acesso e a assistência à saúde das populações LGBTT foram discutidos em três dimensões: relacional, que diz respeito às relações intersubjetivas entre usuários e profissionais; organizacional, que se refere aos modos de organizar os serviços e os processos de trabalho; e contextual, que engloba como situações de vulnerabilidades imbricadas com os determinantes sociais afetam as condições de satisfação das necessidades de saúde. Os dados mostraram que as populações LGBTT são alvo de preconceitos, violências e discriminações, que, somados a diferentes marcadores sociais, engendram um contexto de vulnerabilidades no acesso e na assistência à saúde. É necessário transformar as práticas e as relações sociais que se dão no interior das instituições de saúde, do contrário, corre-se o risco de afastar cada vez mais parte dessas populações dos serviços de saúde.

Sexual Minority Women's Experiences With Sexual Identity Disclosure in Contraceptive Care

OBJECTIVE

To describe a group of young sexual minority women's experiences with and preferences for sexual identity disclosure in the context of contraceptive care.

METHODS

In Chicago, Illinois, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Madison, Wisconsin, investigators conducted five focus groups (n=22) and 11 interviews with women aged 20-30 years who identified as something other than heterosexual. Focus groups explored social norms regarding contraceptive care; interviews documented individual experiences with contraceptive care. Using a qualitative descriptive approach and combined deductive and inductive content analysis, investigators coded transcripts for themes related to disclosing sexual orientation to contraceptive providers.

RESULTS

Participants described the process of sexual identity disclosure in contraceptive care in three stages: 1) listening for whether, when, and how health care providers asked about sexual orientation, 2) deciding whether or not to disclose sexual identity to providers, and 3) evaluating responses from providers after disclosure. Participants wanted providers to: avoid assumptions and ask about both sexual identity and sexual behaviors, signal their openness and competence around the health of sexual minority women during contraceptive encounters, and focus discussions on the individual patient's priorities and needs for contraceptive care.

CONCLUSION

Decisions made by sexual minority women about sexual identity disclosure in contraceptive contexts are influenced by previous and current interactions with health care providers. Contraceptive providers should ask all patients about sexual identity and sexual behavior, avoid assumptions about use of and need for contraception, and acknowledge the prevalence of marginalization, discrimination, and stigma experienced by sexual minority women and their communities in health care contexts.