LGBTQ competence wanted: LGBTQ parents’ experiences of reproductive health care in Sweden

Abstract

Background It is the responsibility of reproductive healthcare professionals to support all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) parents in their transition to parenthood. LGBTQ parents may not be fully supported within the reproductive health sector, because of heteronormativity and healthcare professionals’ attitudes and practices. Beyond same‐sex mothers, no research has been conducted in Sweden on the broader group of LGTBQ parents. Aim To explore LGBTQ expectant and new parents’ experiences of reproductive health care in Sweden when becoming parents. Method The current study consisted of cross‐sectional qualitative interviews and was conducted using a semi‐structured interview guide. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using systematic text condensation according to Malterud. Results The convenience sample consisted of 12 LGBTQ expectant or new parents. Four themes emerged from the analysis: (i) Inadequacies and mistreatment in reproductive health care, (ii) Consequences of heteronormativity, (iii) Satisfaction with reproductive health care despite heteronormativity and (iv) Wishing for LGBTQ competent reproductive health care. The first two themes concerned different heteronormative barriers in reproductive health care and the consequences for LGBTQ parents, which also included intersecting forms of judgment and mistreatment. The third theme highlighted the participants’ satisfaction with LGBTQ competent care and aspects of high‐quality care, despite lacking support. The last theme described the participants’ wishes for inclusive and LGBTQ competent care and what reproductive healthcare professionals can do to achieve LGBTQ competence. Conclusions Heteronormativity in the reproductive health sector is widespread and leads to lacking support in the transition to parenthood for LGBTQ people. Swedish reproductive health professionals may benefit from interventions aimed at developing LGBTQ competence. Reproductive healthcare professionals need to develop professional interventions to support and facilitate LGBTQ parents’ transition to parenthood.

Cultural competence in fertility care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people: a systematic review of patient and provider perspectives

“…Fourteen studies noted that patients reported heteronormativity and cisnormativity as significant barriers to care (25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35). Examples of heteronormativity and cisnormativity included standardized forms that were designed for opposite-sex couples (28,30,33,34) and signage that excluded LGBTQþ parents (28).…”

Empowering LGBTQ parents: How to improve maternity services and child healthcare settings for this community – ‘She told us that we are good as a family’

“…There are, for example, studies about heteronormative communication with lesbian families, 23 attitudes of health professionals towards LGBT persons in a range of healthcare settings 24–26 and those held by nursing and medical students, 27,28 and attitudes of health professionals working in community early parenting services in two states of Australia. 29 Further, there is also research on LGBTQ families' experiences and needs in those settings. 17,18,26,30,31 Typically, those are dominated by studies on same-sex/lesbian motherhood, 31 and studies conducted on the broader group of LGBTQ parents in Nordic countries is still rare.…”

The procreative identities of men in same‐sex relationships choosing surrogacy: A new theoretical understanding

“…Surrogacy births among same-sex parents interrupt administrative guidelines, hospital policies, and medical discourses that employ heteronormative and gendered language. Thus, surrogacy practices may ultimately require a shift in language to be inclusive of same-sex parent families (Brennan et al, 2012;Klittmark et al, 2019;Stewart & O'Reilly, 2017). For example, post-birth orders, birth certificates, and health insurance documentation often employ heteronormative language; a lack of inclusive terminology that does not allow two men to assume parenthood creates additional hurdles that foster uncertainty, administrative errors, and frustration (Fantus, 2020(Fantus, , 2021aLev & Sennott, 2013;Shilo et al, 2016).…”