Experiences of LGBTI+ individuals in accessing right to health; a survey study from Turkey.

Background: In Turkey, LGBTI+s is experiencing discrimination in all areas of their lives. Objectives: We aimed to determine the problems experienced by LGBTI+s living in Turkey in accessing their right to health. Methods: An online questionnaire containing 37 open-ended and multiple-choice questions about respondent's demographic characteristics, experiences in accessing and receiving health services was prepared. Between October 2018 and December 2019, the survey was disseminated via social media platforms and sent to LGBTI+ friendly institutions. 81 people responded to the survey. Results: 43.2% had at least one chronic disease. Participants stated that 44.5% of them go to a health institution <3 times in a year. 91.4% of the participants declared that they never or rarely said their sexual identity/orientation at the health institutions, and 39.2% of them encountered negative behaviour when they did. 98.8% of the participants said that they think physicians do not have enough information about LGBTI+s. Conclusions: The knowledge and attitude of healthcare professionals are one of the essential determinants of LGBTI+s' use of their right to health. Alienating and homophobic behaviors against LGBTI+s is the biggest problem for LGBTI+s to receive quality health care in Turkey.

Sexual Abuse of Children in Turkey: Psychiatric Evaluation of 1785 Cases.

Introduction: This study aims to investigate the characteristic features of sexual abuse of children with a focus on psychiatric consequences and other associated elements. Methods: We evaluated 1785 child sexual abuse cases who were referred to the Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Medicine Forensic Medicine Department for examination and forensic reports during the 14-year period between 2006 - 2019. The study involved the examination of the patient files/records of victims of child sexual abuse. Results: The girls represented 81.8% of victims of sexual abuse, while all perpetrators were male. The mean ages at the time of abuse were 12.7±3.1 (2-17) years in girls and 10.7±3.2 (2-17) years in boys. In vast majority of the cases, perpetrators were found to be acquaintances of the victims (87.2%). 43% of child sexual abuse cases involved penetration. Psychological examination revealed that psychiatric pathology developed in 64.6% of the children who were exposed to sexual abuse. Being female, the presence of penetration and the presence of incest significantly increased the development of any psychiatric pathologies. Conclusion: Sexual abuse of children is a multidimensional public health problem. Additional education services to raise awareness of the children and their relatives, and the establishment of social and legal support schemes for victims and the families for sexual abuse and its consequences are deemed necessary.