Lesbian and bisexual women's sexual healthcare experiences

Munson, Siân; Cook, Catherine

doi:10.1111/jocn.13364

Cited by 34 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Muson and Cook (2016) convey the challenges of lesbian and bisexual women having to "come out" repeatedly to medical providers as a result of their clinicians' assumptions of heterosexuality. Lesbian and bisexual women report that a fear of being judged unfairly, based on assumptions of heterosexuality, create discomfort to further discuss medical concerns (Munson & Cook, 2016). The lack of attention to the sexual health of an LGBTQIA+ person contributes to decreased attendance to medical appointments and the decreased congruence of relationship between provider and client.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changing the culture of neurodisability through language and sensitivity of providers: Creating a safe place for LGBTQIA+ people

Moreno

Laoch

Zasler

2017

NRE

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Abstract. BACKGROUND:There is an increasing interest in sexual and gender diversity in neurorehabilitation. Healthcare professionals wanting to improve their practice know the importance of understanding the needs and expectations of specific communities. OBJECTIVE: To critically review the literature about neurological disorders in people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and people with other sexual orientations and forms of gender expression (LGBTQIA+). METHODS: Systematic search in electronic databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science) and identification of relevant studies. RESULTS: Quantitative and qualitative findings are summarized and reported by neurological disorders: a) neurodisability/epilepsy (17.7%), b) intellectual disability/autism spectrum disorders (19.6%), c) dementia/HIV-related dementia (39.2%), d) spinal cord injury (7.8%), and e) traumatic brain injury/stroke (15.7%). CONCLUSIONS:LGBTQIA+ people with neurodisabilities and their partners/families of choice can conceal their sexual orientation or gender identity for fear of diminished quality of care. Their invisibility translates into health disparities, lack of policies and services that meet their unique needs. Dementia is the most common neurodisability documented in LGBTQIA+ people. We provide recommendations to increase LGBTQIA+ cultural competency for clinical practice, research, and policy to help different stakeholders to promote a positive change in the culture of neurodisability.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changing the culture of neurodisability through language and sensitivity of providers: Creating a safe place for LGBTQIA+ people

Moreno

Laoch

Zasler

2017

NRE

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“…Previous research has shown that using inclusive terms when talking about spouses is more likely to help sexual minorities disclose their sexual orientation (Law et al, ; Legere & MacDonnell, ). Women had also been given patient education and asked questions from a heteronormative viewpoint, as has been shown in previous research (Agénor et al, ; Munson & Cook, ). Thus, heteronormativity might lead to situations when lesbian and bisexual women do not receive the health care or patient education they need because they are unsure if the given guidance includes them.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Numerous previous studies have shown health care to be heteronormative. Sexual minorities have described that they are "not seen" in health care because of its heteronormativity (Hayman, Wilkes, Halcomb, & Jackson, 2013;Munson & Cook, 2016), which has led them to feel that they are not welcome in health care (Czaja et al, 2016;Smith, 2015). Many had received patient guidance based on heteronormative assumptions (Agénor et al, 2015;Munson & Cook, 2016), and this was confusing for patients because they did not What does this paper contribute to the wider global clinical community • Not recognising the diversity of sexual orientations causes offence for lesbian and bisexual women.…”

Section: Heteronormativitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Lesbian and bisexual women’s experiences of health care: “Do not say, ‘husband’, say, ‘spouse’”

Soinio

Paavilainen

Kylmä

2019

Journal of Clinical Nursing

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Aims and objectives To describe the experiences and wishes of lesbian and bisexual women concerning health care in Finland. Background Sexual orientation is a personal aspect of identity and also an important aspect of holistic health care. Lesbian and bisexual women have unmet health needs. The way that healthcare personnel encounter lesbian and bisexual women affects whether they disclose their sexual orientation. Design Qualitative inductive survey. Methods The research data for this study were collected in spring 2018 using an electronic survey (n = 22). The data were analysed using inductive content analysis. The research report has been checked using COREQ checklist, see Appendix S1. Results The research data were divided into two main domains: experiences and wishes. Women described health care as being heteronormative. They had both good and bad experiences, and their own poor experiences and those of others had a negative impact on their utilisation of healthcare services. Women had apprehensions about encountering stereotyping in health care and did not always disclose their orientation, even though recognising it would be integral to the provision of holistic health care. Lesbian and bisexual women wished that health care would refrain from heteronormativity, acknowledge issues that were important to them and engage with them without any prejudgement. They also wished healthcare environments would be improved to reflect an open acceptance of sexual minorities and also co‐operate with sexual minority organisations. Conclusions Women had conflicting experiences. Heteronormativity was seen as an obstacle for holistic health care. Women hoped health care would collaborate with the third sector. Relevance to clinical practice Sexual diversity should be acknowledged and better communicated to patients. Women hoped personnel would have the understanding to treat them in the same professional way as any other patients, but with expertise specific to their needs, for example in sexual health guidance.

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“…First, providers may assume that women accessing sexual and reproductive health services, especially family planning-related services, identify as heterosexual or are in exclusively opposite-sex sexual and romantic relationships [7–10]. Across studies, women report this assumption of sexual orientation and behaviors to be problematic, in part because of the burden it places on women to disclose their orientation in a context that may not be perceived as safe (i.e., where they will not be discriminated against) [8,11]. Second, sexual minorities may believe that their care providers are not adequately prepared to provide them with accurate sexual health information.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Second, sexual minorities may believe that their care providers are not adequately prepared to provide them with accurate sexual health information. Some sexualminority women report instances where they disclosed their identity and/or sexual behaviors and were then advised that they did not need to consider important reproductive health services, such as STI screens [7,8,12]. Such negative interactions with healthcare providers in clinical settings serve as a deterrent to seeking care among sexual minorities [7,13,14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

One in three: challenging heteronormative assumptions in family planning health centers

et al. 2018

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Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of sexual-minority women among clients in family planning centers and explore differences in LARC uptake by both sexual identity (i.e., exclusively heterosexual, mostly heterosexual, bisexual, lesbian) and sexual behavior in the past 12 months (i.e., only male partners, both male and female partners, only female partners, no partners) among those enrolled in the survey arm of the HER Salt Lake Contraceptive Initiative. Methods: This survey categorized participants into groups based on reports of sexual identity and sexual behavior. We report contraceptive uptake by these factors, and we used logistic and multinomial logistic models to assess differences in contraceptive method selection by sexual identity and behavior. Results: Among 3901 survey respondents, 32% (n=1230) identified with a sexual-minority identity and 6% had had a female partner in the past 12 months. By identity, bisexual and mostly heterosexual women selected an IUD or implant more frequently than exclusively heterosexual women and demonstrated a preference for the copper T380 IUD. Exclusively heterosexual and lesbian women did not differ in their contraceptive method selection, however, by behavior, women with only female partners selected IUDs or implants less frequently than those with only male partners. Conclusion: One in three women attending family planning centers for contraception identified as a sexual minority. Sexual-minority women selected IUDs or implants more frequently than exclusively heterosexual women. Implications: Providers should avoid care assumptions based upon sexual identity. Sexual-minority women should be offered all methods of contraception and be provided with inclusive contraceptive counseling conversations.

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Lesbian and bisexual women's sexual healthcare experiences

Abstract: This study's findings can be used to guide further research to identify ways to optimise clinicians' engagement with lesbian and bisexual women. Recognition of diversity and skilful communication are essential to rectify inequities and effectively target health information.

Cited by 34 publications

References 47 publications

Changing the culture of neurodisability through language and sensitivity of providers: Creating a safe place for LGBTQIA+ people

Changing the culture of neurodisability through language and sensitivity of providers: Creating a safe place for LGBTQIA+ people

Lesbian and bisexual women’s experiences of health care: “Do not say, ‘husband’, say, ‘spouse’”

One in three: challenging heteronormative assumptions in family planning health centers

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