LGBTQ+ Psychosocial Concerns in Nursing and Midwifery Education Programmes: Qualitative Findings from a Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract

LGBTQ+ people experience significant physical and psychosocial health issues and concerns, and encounter barriers when accessing healthcare services. We conducted a mixed-methods research study across all Schools of Nursing and Midwifery in the United Kingdom and Ireland using a survey and qualitative interviews. This was to identify the current content within nursing and midwifery pre-registration programmes in relation to LGBTQ+ health and to identity best practice and education innovation within these programmes. The survey was completed by 29 academics, with 12 selected to participate in a follow-up in-depth qualitative interview. Analysis of the data from the survey and interviews identified five themes: there is variable programme content; academics are developing their own programmes with no clear consistency; LGBTQ+ health is being linked to equality and diversity; there are barriers to education provision; and these is some evidence of best practice examples. The findings of the study support the need to develop and implement a curriculum for LGBTQ+ health in nursing and midwifery pre-registration programmes with learning aims and outcomes. Academics need support and tools to prepare and deliver LGBTQ+ health content to nurses and midwives as they ultimately have the potential to improve the experiences of LGBTQ+ people when accessing healthcare.

Providing Inclusive Midwifery Care for 2SLGBTQQIA+ People: Supporting Inclusion in Ontario's Midwifery Education Program

“…However, the available studies identify the need to provide these health care providers with prelicensure training and education that is specific to the needs of 2SLGBTQQIA+ parents. [15][16][17][18][19] Nevertheless, no studies have investigated the current training and education provided to midwives in Canada and whether it prepares them to provide inclusive perinatal care to 2SLGBTQQIA+ clients. This study aims to start filling this gap in knowledge by exploring the experiences of midwives who were educated in Ontario's Midwifery Education Program (MEP) and who consider themselves advocates for 2SLGBTQQIA+ inclusion in midwifery practice.…”

“…To date, research on how birth practitioners such as nurses, midwives, or physicians are trained to provide inclusive care to 2SLGBTQQIA+ people is limited. However, the available studies identify the need to provide these health care providers with prelicensure training and education that is specific to the needs of 2SLGBTQQIA+ parents 15–19 . Nevertheless, no studies have investigated the current training and education provided to midwives in Canada and whether it prepares them to provide inclusive perinatal care to 2SLGBTQQIA+ clients.…”

Warming the whare for trans people and whānau in perinatal care

“…The importance of this has also been outlined as a global priority in addressing health inequities for Rainbow communities in international position statements (e.g., International Confederation of Midwives, 2017). Despite addressing these inequities being stated as a priority, there is currently inconsistency across individual providers' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs on providing affirming and inclusive care for Rainbow communities (Arias et al, 2021;Echezona-Johnson, 2017;Stewart & O'Reilly, 2017) and trans people specifically (e.g., Brown et al, 2021;Johansson et al, 2020). This variability has been attributed to cis-and heteronormative cultures in care settings, and the historic lack of education in health curricula on Rainbow communities' health needs (See Stewart & O'Reilly, 2017).…”