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Key Issues in LGBT Health. Budapest, July 19-20, 2006 Brian Griffin. What is health?. WHO: state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. What is LGBT health?. [fill in the blank!]. What is LGBT health for ILGA Europe?.
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Key Issues in LGBT Health Budapest, July 19-20, 2006 Brian Griffin
What is health? WHO: state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
What is LGBT health? [fill in the blank!]
What is LGBT health for ILGA Europe? [fill in the blank!]
What is LGBT health for ILGA Europe? • Advocacy (strategy) • Access to services (objective) • Reduced health disparities and improved health outcomes (goal)
Using data for advocacy • We don’t have all the data we need to advocate for access to health services for LGBT persons. • For the data we do have, “traditional advocacy” is not the only way we can follow up on our findings.
What is health access? • Interaction between provider and client. • Both provider and client face barriers to giving and receiving quality health services. • The health system may impose further barriers on providers and clients.
Health disparities and outcomes • The international literature suggests health disparities between LGBT and non-LGBT. • Ultimately we are looking to produce measurable decreases in health disparities and improvements in health outcomes.
Identifying barriers… …and opportunities.
Research question #1: Client needs • What are the health outcomes and health needs of LGBT persons? • What does the international literature say? • What role do our own health systems, policies and cultures play?
Research question #2: Services available from providers • What health services are available that respond to these needs? • How does the health system function overall in our countries and communities? • How are LGBT health needs met within these health systems?
Research question #3:Client experiences and perceptions • What LGBT-specific services have LGBT persons used? • Where have they accessed these services? • What motivated them to access these services? • What prevented them from accessing these services?
Research question #4: Provider experiences and perceptions • Are providers aware LGBT clients and their health needs? • How do providers view LGBT clients and their health needs? • What has supported providers in meeting LGBT health needs? • What has prevented providers from meeting LGBT health needs?
Barriers on the client side • Experiences of discrimination • Perception of discrimination • Internalized homophobia • Lack of knowledge about LGBT-specific health needs • Lack of perceived importance of LGBT health issues • Barriers related to other identities or vulnerabilities • Barriers shared with non-LGBT population
Opportunities on the client side • Strong LGBT community networks • Knowledge of sexual health by way of HIV/AIDS • How are LGBT persons already taking care of their health needs?
Barriers on the provider side • Discriminatory attitudes • Lack of knowledge about LGBT-specific health needs • Lack of knowledge about LGBT persons • Barriers to provision of quality health care unrelated to LGBT issues
Opportunities on the provider side • LGBT organizations branching into LGBT health • HIV/AIDS organizations branching into LGBT health • Providers who are LGBT
Systemic barriers and opportunities • Looking at every level of the health care system • Medical universities / continuing medical education / medical certification • Partnerships with organizations serving youth and vulnerable populations • Policy barriers: Rights for domestic partners, confidentiality laws • Policy opportunities: Health sector reform • Research: Increasing funding for LGBT-specific research, and also including LGBT persons as a category within larger studies • Barriers to provision of quality health care not specifically related to LGBT health