“It's Mainly the Fear of Getting Hurt”: Experiences of LGBT Individuals with the Healthcare System in Lebanon

Abstract

LGBT people face significant discrimination, social pressures, and legal challenges in Lebanon, yet little is known about their experiences with the healthcare system. We conducted a secondary data analysis study using a qualitative descriptive design and data from the parent project, LebGuide (2016–2017). The data consisted of de-identified one-on-one interviews with 13 LGBT individuals and seven community-based organizations (CBOs). Data were analyzed using content analysis. Themes related to LGBT individuals’ healthcare experiences overlapped between the two groups of participants (LGBT participants and CBO participants) and centered around: anticipation of discrimination, experiences with healthcare providers, experiences with healthcare systems, transgender-specific experiences, and role of CBOs. This study highlights the need for LGBT-inclusive curricula in healthcare educational and training programs. Since most positive healthcare experiences reported by participants were at CBOs, it is important for CBOs to partner with healthcare institutions to introduce an LGBT-affirming culture into the healthcare workplace and the institutional culture of healthcare facilities and systems.