Risk factors to mental health challenges among the LGBTI+ community in Gaborone, Botswana.

BACKGROUND:  Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and other gender diverse groupings symbolised by + (LGBTI+) individuals experience adverse mental health problems, and several factors have been documented to facilitate such problems. However, in Botswana, the factors facilitating LGBTI+ individuals to experience mental health challenges have not been explored with previous studies only highlighting the poor mental health outcomes they experience. OBJECTIVES:  The aim of the study was to explore and describe factors that could cause mental health challenges in LGBTI+ individuals in Gaborone, Botswana. METHOD:  A qualitative, descriptive, phenomenological design was employed to examine the research question. In data collection, 15 unstructured in-depth telephonic interviews were conducted until data saturation. Data were analysed with a co-coder using the data analysis method by Colaizzi. RESULTS:  Three themes emerged following data analysis and were reasons for experiencing mental health challenges, experiences of challenges in accessing healthcare services and the social challenges of everyday life. CONCLUSION:  The findings indicate that a variety of factors influence the mental health problems in some LGBTI+ individuals.Contribution: The knowledge of the factors that cause LGBTI+ individuals' mental health challenges can inform mental healthcare to be rendered. The findings can apprise nursing curriculum development and policy regarding the needs of LGBTI+ individuals.

[Informing and preventing risk behaviors among LGBTQIA+ communities]. / Informer et prévenir les comportements à risque auprès des communautés LGBTQIA.

Preventing and protecting the population against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is a key focus of sexual health policies. Currently, there are a number of preventive strategies in place to protect users, particularly those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer and intersex (LGBTI) community, from the risk of contracting STIs. In this article, we will outline the current prevention measures available to help those concerned.

Denegación de cambio de sexo registral: comentario al Auto del Magistrado del Registro Civil Único de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria de 18/09/2023 / [Denial of change of registration sex: comment to the Order of the Magistrate of the Single Civil Registry of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria of 09/18/2023]

El presente trabajo analiza el Auto 1045/2023, de fecha 18 de septiembre. Resolución que iba a suponer, a la postre, la denegación de la solicitud de un ciudadano que había pretendido, amparándose en Ley 4/2023, del 28 de febrero, una rectificación registral de la mención relativa al sexo, de varón a mujer, conservando su nombre. (AU)

This work analyzes Auto 1045/2023, dated September 18th. This resolution was going to result in the denial of a citizen’s request who, relying on Law 4/2023, dated February 28th, had sought a registry correction regarding gender, from male to female, while retaining his name. (AU)

An exploration of mental distress in transgender people in Ireland with reference to minority stress and dissonance theory.

Introduction: Internationally mental distress is more prominent in the LGBTI community than the general population. The LGBTIreland study was set up to take stock of this in the Republic of Ireland. This paper reports on the analysis of the transgender group with reference to minority stress theory and cognitive dissonance theory. Method: An online survey was conducted addressing several aspects of mental health and distress that received responses from all groupings (n = 2,264) among which 12.3% (n = 279) identified as transgender. The survey consisted of several validated tools to measure depression, anxiety, stress (DASS-21), coping (CSES), self-esteem (RSES), alcohol and drugs misuse (AUDIT) and a variety of questions addressing demographics, experiential aspects, coping and self-related factors. Data analysis focused on predicting mental distress using DASS-general (composite of depression, anxiety and stress). Results: Transgender participants reported higher levels of mental distress, self-harm, suicidal ideation and attempts, and lower levels of self-esteem in comparison with the LGB groups, as well as the general population. Hierarchical multiple regression showed that 53% of variance in mental distress could be predicted from reduced self-esteem, the experience of harassment and not belonging in school. Furthermore, mental distress was highest among younger participants, those who were 'not out', those who had self-harmed and used avoidant coping. There was no significant difference in distress levels among those who had sought mental health support and those who had not. Conclusions: To understand mental distress in transgender people, the minority stress model is useful when taking into account both adverse external (environmental) and internal (cognitive/emotional) factors. The cognitive dissonance mechanism is essential in outlining the mechanism whereby gender incongruence is associated with psychological discomfort, low self-esteem and high mental distress.

Mental health challenges experienced by LGBTI+ community in Gaborone: A phenomenological study.

Background: Mental health challenges have affected the entire global population including individuals identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and others (LGBTI+). There is documented evidence of a high prevalence of mental health challenges among LGBTI+ community across the globe, but in Botswana there is dearth of literature pertaining to the phenomenon of LGBTI+ mental health challenges. Aim: The study was aimed at exploring and describing the mental health challenges experienced by some people identifying as the LGBTI+ community in Gaborone, Botswana. Setting: The study was conducted in Gaborone in Botswana. Methods: The study adopted a qualitative, phenomenological, descriptive design with 15 participants identified through snowball sampling. LEGABIBO, the LGBTI+ advocacy organisation, served as gatekeeper after Health Research and Development Division under the Ministry of Health and Wellness gave the ethical clearance of the study. Data were collected through unstructured telephonic interviews and recorded with a digital voice recorder. Results: The study established that some LGBTI+ individuals experienced mental health challenges like experiences of depression, experiences of gender dysphoria, and loneliness and isolation. Conclusion: It is concluded that individuals identifying as LGBTI+ experience mental health challenges that stem from being stigmatised and discriminated among others. Contribution: The findings of the study provide information that may be used in dealing with mental health issues of individuals identifying as LGBTI+. Furthermore, the findings may inform nursing practice, research and education issues on LGBTI+ as well as influence health policy in addressing the mental health issues of those identifying as LGBTI+.

Domestic Violence against LGBTI People: Perspectives of Portuguese Education Professionals.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people are more likely to be exposed to domestic violence than the rest of the population. Using a descriptive qualitative methodology, 28 professionals from the educational sector, aged between 28 and 64 years old (M = 44.5), were interviewed to describe and understand their perspectives on the sector's ability to support, intervene and get involved with LGBTI people and, particularly, with victims or former victims of domestic violence. Through a thematic content analysis, three main themes emerged: (i) life trajectories of LGBTI people; (ii) domestic violence perpetrated against LGBTI people; and (iii) training of the educational sector to intervene with LGBTI people. The results show that Portuguese education professionals are not trained to recognize and intervene with LGBTI people and, in particular, with those who are victims of domestic violence, since they are unaware of the existence of protocols and/or guidelines for detecting and preventing risk situations among students. Furthermore, the curricular plan fails in the coverage of domestic violence and LGBTI-related topics, although the National Strategy for Citizenship Education has been implemented in Portugal since 2017. Findings suggest the need to invest in education professionals' training.

Predictors of health professional students' attitudes toward LGBTI individuals: A cross-sectional study from Turkey.

AIM: This study aimed to examine the relationships between the demographic characteristics, knowledge, and attitude of health professional students toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals. METHODS: A total of 860 undergraduate health professional students were enrolled in this analytical cross-sectional study. RESULTS: The attitudes of health professional students toward LGBTI individuals are moderately positive. Some variables such as gender, faculty/department, mother's working status, having knowledge about LGBTI, having friends who are openly LGBTI, and thoughts about being an LGBTI explained 17.1 % of the variance in attitudes toward LGBTI individuals. CONCLUSION: Since negative attitudes may prevent LGBTI individuals from receiving effective health care, courses that increase students' awareness of their own prejudices and knowledge of LGBTI health and communication should be integrated into undergraduate programs.

Association between the Expression of Sexual Orientation and/or Gender Identity and Mental Health Perceptions in the Peruvian LGBTI Population.

INTRODUCTION: The non-expression of sexual orientation and gender identity can affect mental health in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex population in Peru. METHOD: Secondary, observational, analytical, and cross-sectional analyses of data from the "First Virtual Survey on the LGBTI population" were conducted with a population (n = 11,345) of LGBTI adults aged 18 years old or more. The variables of mental health and expression of sexual orientation and/or gender identity were measured using a self-reported questionnaire that did not include a validated scale; questions with multiple alternatives that included "yes" and "no" options were used. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were obtained by glm log Poisson regression models. RESULTS: The median age of the participants was 25 years (IQR: 21-30), and the majority of the population identified as gay, followed by lesbian and bisexual. Individuals who expressed their sexual orientation and/or gender identity were 17% less likely to have had perceived mental health problems in the last 12 months (PR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.76-0.90, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The non-expression of sexual orientation and/or gender identity has a significant negative effect on the mental health problems of the LGBTI population. These results highlight the importance of promoting the expression of sexual orientation and gender identity in our community.

Velhice LGBTI e Comunidade Rural Litorânea: um estudo das representações sociais entre uma população majoritariamente católica

Esse estudo teve como objetivo identificar e compreender as representações sociais da velhice LGBTI entre pessoas adultas de uma comunidade rural litorânea. Contou-se com a participação de 31 pessoas, majoritariamente mulheres (65%), heterossexuais (97%), católicos (97%), pescadores (42%), com idade média de 48 anos. Realizou-se entrevistas semiestruturadas, analisadas no software IRaMuTeQ, versão 0.7 alpha 2, pelo método de Classificação Hierárquica Descendente. Identificou-se representações dicotômicas acerca dos construtos estudados, que carregam indícios de preconceito sutil direcionado a idosos LGBTI's, bem como, uma compreensão biologizante do envelhecimento. Discutiu-se os resultados, corroborando e/ou os contrapondo com estudos anteriores. É esperado que este estudo contribua para o desenvolvimento de investigações futuras, e para a criação e implementação de políticas públicas direcionadas a essa população.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar y comprender las representaciones sociales de la vejez LGBTI entre adultos en una comunidad rural costera. Hubo 31 personas, en su mayoría mujeres (65%), heterosexuales (97%), católicos (97%), pescadores (42%), con una edad promedio de 48 años. Se llevaron a cabo entrevistas semiestructuradas, analizadas con el software IRaMuTeQ, versión 0.7 alpha 2, con el método de Clasificación jerárquica descendente. Se identificaron representaciones dicotómicas sobre los constructos estudiados, que muestran signos de prejuicios sutiles dirigidos a las personas mayores de LGBTI, así como una comprensión biologizante del envejecimiento. Los resultados fueron discutidos, corroborando y / o contrastando con estudios previos. Se espera que este estudio contribuya al desarrollo de investigaciones futuras y a la creación e implementación de políticas públicas dirigidas a esta población.

This study aimed to identify and understand the social representations of LGBTI old age among adults in a coastal rural community. There were 31 people, mostly women (65%), heterosexuals (97%), Catholics (97%), fishermen (42%), with an average age of 48 years. Semi-structured interviews were carried out, analyzed using the IRaMuTeQ software, version 0.7 alpha 2, using the Descending Hierarchical Classification method. Dichotomous representations about the studied constructs were identified, which bear signs of subtle prejudice directed at LGBTI's elderly people, as well as a biologizing understanding of aging. The results were discussed, corroborating and / or contrasting them with previous studies. It is expected that this study will contribute to the development of future research, and to the creation and implementation of public policies aimed at this population.

Inclusive National Educational Policies as Protective Factors for LGBTI Youth Adjustment: An European Cross-National Study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether the presence of inclusive national educational policies is associated with more positive adjustment, better school experiences, and less harassment among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) youth. METHODS: A total of 66,851 LGBTI youth aged 15-24 from 30 EU countries completed the EU-LGBTI II survey in 2019. Participants reported on feelings of sadness/depression, life satisfaction, lack of safety at school, being out at school as LGBTI, experiences of bias-based school violence, and experiences of general and bias-based harassment. Individual-level data were linked to country-level data on the presence of LGBTI-inclusive school policies obtained from the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Intersex Youth and Student Organisation report which reviewed existing European educational measures. The inclusiveness of each policy was assessed by the inclusion of the following grounds as protected: Variation in sexual characteristics, gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation. National policies were categorized into (1) antidiscrimination laws; (2) policies and action plans; (3) inclusive curricula; (4) teacher training; and (5) government support. RESULTS: LGBTI youth with more inclusive school policies in their countries had lower odds of lack of school safety, and concealment, and higher odds of life satisfaction. Inclusive teacher training and curricula were associated with less lack of safety and depression/sadness, and less school bias-based violence. Moreover, whereas teacher training was associated with more visibility and less concealment among LGBTI youth, inclusive curricula were linked to less general and bias-based harassment experiences. DISCUSSION: A multipronged national approach that includes teacher training and inclusive curricula is needed to better support LGBTI youth.

Variables that enhance the development of resilience in young gay people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

AIMS: Sexual and gender minorities are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety caused by COVID-19. However, they also have specific variables that have been little studied but which may protect them from this adverse situation. The aim of this study was to find out whether there were differences in socio-demographic and psychosocial variables in two groups of Spanish gay young people (high and low resilience), and predictors of risk and protective factors were examined. METHODS: Nine hundred and seventy-nine young homosexuals (389; 39.73% self-reported as women) aged between 18 and 26 years old who experienced mandatory confinement due to COVID-19, completed an anonymous online questionnaire. Hope, perceived self-efficacy, reappraisal index, coping humour, anxiety, depression were assessed along with socio-demographic information. Data were collected between 15 and 26 April 2020. RESULTS: Socio-demographic variables that were predictive of highly resilient behaviour included being between 24 and 26 years old, living with LGBTI+ peers and living in big cities, protective psychosocial variables included reframing in reappraising the confinement situation, humour as coping, social support from significant others and self-efficacy. CONCLUSION: This is one of the first studies on this subject of compulsory COVID-19 confinement on young homosexuals in Spain. Mental health professionals and organizations should also include work on psychosocial protective factors, not just risk factors, to enhance resilient outcomes in this group.

Between Privileges and Sacrifices: Heteronormativity and Turkish Nationalism in Urban Turkey.

This paper examines the relation between nationalism and heteronormativity through the lens of hegemonic masculinity and shows how Turkish nationalism helps to construct the "normal" and thus strengthen heteronormative thinking in Turkish society. Utilizing in-depth interviews in Çanakkale with 16 men who carry the typical features of a privileged Turkish citizen-namely the ones self-identifying as Turkish, Sunni Muslim, heterosexual, and breadwinner-my aim in the paper is to reveal and comprehend attitudes toward non-heterosexual people in Turkey, to challenge the effect of the possible nationalist ideological tendencies on participants' discourses, and to explicate if such tendencies play a part in justifying their attitudes. I suggest that respondents' privileges are obtained in exchange for strict commitment to Turkish nationalistic values. These values not only define what constitutes "normal" but also determine and disparage anyone who deviates from such definition. Greater commitment to such values signals a more powerful heterosexual matrix and thus greater exclusion of queer people in Turkey.

A Cross-Sectional Survey Study on Homophobia Among Medical, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Other Health Sciences Students.

Since the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) community may be exposed to violence, discrimination, stigma, exclusion, and maltreatment due to their sexual orientation while accessing healthcare services, understanding, and improving the attitudes of future's health care professionals toward LGBTI individuals seem essential. This descriptive and cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the homophobia among medical, nursing, pharmacy, and healthcare sciences students and examine the related factors. The study included 2,531 students from medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and other health sciences (midwifery, nutrition and dietetics, physiotherapy, management of healthcare facilities) disciplines. Homophobia was measured with the Hudson and Ricketts Homophobia Scale. After getting ethical and institutional approvals, data were collected and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tests. Medical students had the lowest homophobia score, and their mean score was significantly lower than other students. There was a significant difference between students' scores according to years of study, age, sex, acquaintance with LGBTI individuals, providing healthcare services to an LGBTI person, and opinions on providing care. Although homophobia scores of nursing, pharmacy, and other health sciences students were lower than the medical students', policies and expansive content regarding LGBTI should be in place in all health science educational institutes, including medical schools, to prevent students from holding homophobic and prejudicial attitudes against LGBTI individuals.

El Chemsex desde los Servicios de Análisis de Sustancias: estudio descriptivo sobre la metanfetamina, mefedrona yotras catinonas sintéticas / Chemsex from Drug Checking Services: Descriptive Study on Methamphetamine, Mephedrone, and Other Synthetic Cathinones

Antecedentes: Los Servicios de Análisis de Sustancias (SAS) han demostrado ser una intervención eficazque permite acceder a población a prácticas de consumo más seguras. Este estudio se centra en la poblaciónusuaria de Chemsex. Material y métodos. Análisis descriptivo de las muestras de sustancias cedidas porpersonas participantes en prácticas de Chemsex, enfocándose en metanfetamina (MET), mefedronay otras catinonas sintéticas. Los datos fueron recopilados por el Servicio de Información, Análisis deSustancias y Asesoramiento sobre Sexualidades (SIASAS) de Chem-Safe (Energy Control). Se examinaronlas características sociodemográficas de las personas usuarias, los contextos de adquisición de las sustanciasy su composición química. Resultados. La población de personas usuarias del SIASAS de Chem-Safe queparticipan en sesiones de Chemsex está compuesta principalmente por hombres de mediana edad. Sehan analizado 15 tipologías de sustancias diferentes con predominancia de MET y catinonas. En la primerade ellas está presente la adulteración por adición únicamente y un predominio de la vía fumada (50%),mientras que en el caso de las catinonas sintéticas se identifica un elevado índice de adulteración porsustitución y un predominio de la vía endovenosa y esnifada (41,67% respectivamente). Conclusiones. Lasprincipales sustancias analizadas desde el SIASAS son la MET y las catinonas sintéticas. Entre ambas existendiferencias tanto en su modo de obtención, como contexto de adquisición, administración y adulteración,lo que comporta un aumento de los riesgos para la salud de las personas usuarias. (AU)

Background: Drug Checking Services (DCS) have proven to be an effective intervention thatallows access to safer consumption practices for the population. This study focuses on the userpopulation engaged in Chemsex practices. Materials and Methods. A descriptive analysis of substance samples provided by individuals participating in Chemsex practices, with a focus on methamphetamine (METH), mephedrone, and other synthetic cathinones. Data were collected bythe Drug Checking and Sexuality Counseling Service (DCSCS) of Chem-Safe (Energy Control).Sociodemographic characteristics of users, substance acquisition contexts, and chemical composition were examined. Results. The Chem-Safe DCSCS user population engaging in Chemsex sessions consists predominantly of middle-aged men. Fifteen different substance typologieswere analyzed, with METH and cathinones predominating. In the case of METH, adulterationthrough addition was found, with a predominance of the smoked route (50%). Synthetic cathinones showed a high rate of adulteration through substitution, with a preference for intravenousand insufflation routes (41.67% each). Conclusions. The main substances analyzed by DCSCS areMETH and synthetic cathinones, revealing differences in acquisition, administration, and adulteration contexts. This contributes to an increased health risk for users. (AU)

Questão penitenciária, gênero e sexualidade: análise do tratamento penal gaúcho para pessoas LGBTI+ / Prison matter, gender and sexuality: Rio Grande do Sul criminal treatment for LGBTI+ people analysis

Resumo: O artigo, fruto de investigação qualitativa e descritiva, objetivou analisar como vem se constituindo no Rio Grande do Sul o tratamento penal de pessoas LGBTI+ privadas de liberdade. Para a coleta de dados, foi utilizado um roteiro junto às 125 casas prisionais do estado, tendo uma taxa de 48,8% de respostas que foram analisadas a partir da análise textual discursiva. Os resultados apontam para um tratamento penal violador de direitos e que responde de maneira incompleta às demandas dessa população.

Abstract: The article, the result of qualitative and descriptive research, aimed to analyze how the criminal treatment of LGBTI+ persons deprived of liberty has been constituted in Rio Grande do Sul. For data collection, a script was used with the 125 prisons in the state, with a response rate of 48.8% of responses that were based on discursive textual analysis. The results point to a criminal treatment that violates rights and responds to the demands of this population.

Nursing students' care of and attitudes towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex people in times of COVID-19 in Spain: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work is to measure the knowledge and attitudes of Catalan nursing students regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex (LGBTI) patients, as well as their perception of specific training in this area, according to their internship modalities, sociodemographic circumstances, and academic background during the COVID-19 pandemic. BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Spanish Government created the "Health-Aid" internship: A paid alternative to curricular internships. There is extensive evidence that paid work environments perpetuate negative attitudes towards LGBTI patients. METHOD: A cross-sectional survey aimed at Catalan nursing students. The "Attitudes Towards and Knowledge About Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Patients" questionnaire was adapted. A descriptive study and backward regression models were constructed. RESULTS: Three hundred thirty-seven students, mean age 23.80 years (SD: 5.17) participated; 85% women and 54 (16%) completing the Health Aid internship modality. More than 50% did not attend specific training on the care of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex population. Differences between internship modalities showed higher values in the curricular internship group: Attitudes (U = 6526.50, p = .031) and training perception (U = 5926.50, p = .008). CONCLUSIONS: Nursing students' attitudes towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex patients and their perception of specific training on care for this population were negatively influenced by the paid Health Aid internship during the pandemic. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Even under dire circumstances, clinical training must be properly managed to address the specific health needs of vulnerable populations, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex patients. Paid internships in emergency scenarios may impede these objectives.

Ensuring equitable, inclusive and meaningful gender identity- and sexual orientation-related data collection in the healthcare sector: insights from a critical, pragmatic systematic review of the literature.

In several countries, no gender identity- and sexual orientation-related data is routinely collected, if not for specific health or administrative/social purposes. Implementing and ensuring equitable and inclusive socio-demographic data collection is of paramount importance, given that the LGBTI community suffers from a disproportionate burden in terms of both communicable and non-communicable diseases. To the best of the authors' knowledge, there exists no systematic review addressing the methods that can be implemented in capturing gender identity- and sexual orientation-related data in the healthcare sector. A systematic literature review was conducted for filling in this gap of knowledge. Twenty-three articles were retained and analysed: two focussed on self-reported data, two on structured/semi-structured data, seven on text-mining, natural language processing, and other emerging artificial intelligence-based techniques, two on challenges in capturing sexual and gender-diverse populations, eight on the willingness to disclose gender identity and sexual orientation, and, finally, two on integrating structured and unstructured data. Our systematic literature review found that, despite the importance of collecting gender identity- and sexual orientation-related data and its increasing societal acceptance from the LGBTI community, several issues have to be addressed yet. Transgender, non-binary identities, and also intersex individuals remain often invisible and marginalized. In the last decades, there has been an increasing adoption of structured data. However, exploiting unstructured data seems to overperform in identifying LGBTI members, especially integrating structured and unstructured data. Self-declared/self-perceived/self-disclosed definitions, while being respectful of one's perception, may not completely be aligned with sexual behaviours and activities. Incorporating different levels of information (biological, socio-demographic, behavioural, and clinical) would enable overcoming this pitfall. A shift from a rigid/static nomenclature towards a more nuanced, dynamic, 'fuzzy' concept of a 'computable phenotype' has been proposed in the literature to capture the complexity of sexual identities and trajectories. On the other hand, excessive fragmentation has to be avoided considering that: (i) a full list of options including all gender identities and sexual orientations will never be available; (ii) these options should be easily understood by the general population, and (iii) these options should be consistent in such a way that can be compared among various studies and surveys. Only in this way, data collection can be clinically meaningful: that is to say, to impact clinical outcomes at the individual and population level, and to promote further research in the field.

A discriminational attitude and behavior in the healthcare field: Homophobia level in healthcare professionals working in primary health services and the affecting factors.

PURPOSE: To investigate the homophobia level among the healthcare professionals working in primary healthcare services and the affecting factors. DESIGN AND METHODS: This descriptive and cross-sectional study conducted between November 2018 and April 2019, included 184 healthcare professionals. FINDINGS: The mean total score of the Hudson and Ricketts Homophobia Scale was 103.55 ± 30.47. There was a statistically significant difference between the marital status of the healthcare professionals, what they felt during the care/treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals, level of knowledge about such individuals, willingness to know more about them, and the status of having LGBTI acquaintances and the median homophobia score. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The results will be beneficial for LGBTI individuals, who have problems in communicating with primary healthcare personnel, to benefit from the services effectively.

Intersectionality and the CRPD: an analysis of the CRPD committee's discourse and civil society advocacy at the intersections of disability and LGBTI.

The United Nation ('UN') Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ('CRPD' or 'Convention'), while addressing some intersectionalities, does not explicitly mention sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC). However, the practice of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ('CteeRPD' or 'Committee') has developed significantly over the past years to include the intersections of disability and SOGIESC into the discourse. This paper examines these developments from a queer intersectional perspective based on the document analysis. We analysed a range of documents adopted by the Committee itself, as well as shadow reports submitted to the CteeRPD by civil society, to map the challenges existing at the intersections of disability and SOGIESC. The results of the analysis demonstrate a quantitative shift in the CRPD intersectional discourse, but also qualitative changes in the positioning of the subject - the one living on the intersections of disability and SOGIESC, related structural powers and hierarchies. Based on the analysis, we use a quadruple framework to show how this subject is defined, described, protected and embraced by the CteeRPD, what concrete features of this positioning has been developed already, what gaps still exist and how they can be addressed.

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.