1. Holistic Sexual-Reproductive Healthcare Services and Needs for Queer Individuals: Healthcare Providers' Perspectives.
- Author
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Seretlo, Raikane James, Smuts, Hanlie, and Mokgatle, Mathildah Mpata
- Subjects
HOLISTIC medicine ,REPRODUCTIVE health ,PATIENT safety ,RESEARCH funding ,LGBTQ+ people ,MEDICAL care ,HUMAN beings ,INTERVIEWING ,CONTENT analysis ,PILOT projects ,LUBRICATION & lubricants ,JUDGMENT sampling ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,PROSTATE tumors ,THEMATIC analysis ,RESEARCH ,RESEARCH methodology ,ATTITUDES of medical personnel ,PAP test ,MEDICAL needs assessment ,DATA analysis software ,MEDICAL screening ,SEXUAL health - Abstract
There are ongoing debates and controversies about whether genderqueer individuals have specific sexual-reproductive healthcare services and needs (SRHSNs). This study intended to identify and explore queer-specific SRHSNs among healthcare providers (HCPs) in Gauteng Province, South Africa. This was an exploratory sequential mixed-methods study, and this article focuses on the qualitative findings of that investigation. Thirty-three HCPs were purposively sampled, and semi-structured one-on-one interviews were used to collect data between September and November 2023. The data were analyzed using thematic content analysis (TCA). The results of this study revealed nine main themes: a crucial need for inclusive healthcare facilities; a need for psychological, counseling, and therapeutic support in sexual and reproductive healthcare; access to sexual-reproductive education and integrating support; suggested reproductive health services for queer sexual wellness; improved accessibility and particular queer reproductive healthcare; optimizing services related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) access, and sexually transmitted illness (STI) treatment; genderqueer persons' parenthood aspirations and empowerment; the safe availability of intimacy tools; and navigation transitions. A holistic and inclusive healthcare approach that fits psychological support, comprehensive sexual-reproductive education, and specialized services to accommodate the unique needs of queer individuals should be implemented and made easily accessible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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