Search

Social marginalization harms lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons' wellbeing in Lesotho. Socio-cultural mechanisms linking LGBT stigma, depression, substance use, and HIV among LGBT persons in Lesotho are understudied. We explore associations between LGBT stigma, mental health stressors, and HIV vulnerabilities among LGBT persons in Lesotho. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 46 LGBT persons and six key informants (e.g. healthcare providers). Participants described depression, substance use, and HIV as mutually reinforcing and situated in larger social contexts of stigma. Alcohol use was a stigma coping strategy and a way to build LGBT connections. At the same time, alcohol use elevated HIV vulnerabilities by lowering condom use uptake. Pervasive stigma reinforced barriers to healthcare engagement. Community-led support and services were leveraged to navigate stigma, reduce HIV vulnerabilities, and ultimately improve health. Findings emphasize the key role contexts play in shaping sexual and mental health among LGBT persons in Lesotho.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other sexually and gender diverse persons negotiate for their identities, create communities and advocate for their rights throughout the world. However, there are limited data about the perceptions of social change among sexually and gender diverse persons in contexts where same-sex sexual practices have been recently decriminalised, such as in 2010 in Lesotho. We conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with sexually and gender diverse persons (n = 46) and six key informants. Findings were analysed using Social Worlds Theory. Participants discussed social constraints and marginalisation across structural (legal systems, employment, education), community (beliefs that sexual and gender diversity are incongruent with Basotho culture; stigma), and familial (tensions with religion and cultural gendered economic traditions) dimensions. The narratives also revealed perceived change across structural (changing norms in legal, employment and education spheres), community (larger community and LGBT community change), familial (negotiating acceptance), and internal (active resistance) domains. The findings reported here can inform multi-faceted programmes to challenge stigma, violence and gender inequity; build social capital; and address the health and human rights priorities of sexually and gender diverse persons in Lesotho.

The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of pension money on access to health and selected foodstuffs on the elderly population residing at the Manonyane area in Roma, Lesotho. A descriptive design was used. A sample of 215 pensioners was drawn from 830 registered pensioners in Manonyane. Respondents were aged 70-years and above, as 70 is the age when they begin to receive pension. A survey questionnaire developed by the investigators for this study was piloted and administered in the field by trained field workers. The findings of this study showed that pensioners used a large percentage of pension money on seeking health for themselves and their families, in addition to the purchase of food and alcohol.

Background: Arthritis is a common health problem in old age often impacting the quality of life (QOL) of the elderly. Data on QOL among the elderly living with arthritis in Lesotho is lacking. Objectives: The study assessed the QOL of arthritic elderly people aged >65 in Manonyane community of Lesotho. Methods: This was an analytical cross sectional study. The study purposively sampled 108 arthritic elderly people who received old age pensions in April 2014. Interviewer-administered Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index questionnaire for arthritis version III was used to collect data. Logistic regression (p 0.05) of dissatisfaction with quality of life in this study. Conclusion: Health and functioning as well as social and economic concerns of the elderly are important determinants of quality of life which need attention in Lesotho.

A stratified random sample of 401 participants was taken from three sites of study (Maluti, Seboche and Paray) in rural Lesotho in an attempt to study the relationship between awareness about HIV/AIDS and 55 socio-economic and demographic variables. Pearson's chi-square tests of association and logistic regression analysis were used to identify factors that strongly affected awareness about HIV/AIDS. Results showed that awareness about HIV/AIDS was strongly affected by willingness to change sexual behaviour, regular use of condoms, sexually transmitted diseases, number of sexual partners and knowledge of transmission of the HIV/AIDS virus. Recommendations were made to promote health education in rural Lesotho on safe sex and the use of home-based care for people living with the virus. Keywords: awareness; HIV/AIDS; association; odds ratio; home based care; Lesotho Health SA Gesondheid Vol. 11 (2) 2006: pp. 53-61