Dignity versus diagnosis: sexual orientation and gender identity differences in reports of one’s greatest concern about receiving a sexual health exam

Abstract

Timely sexual health exams are important healthcare behaviours that contribute to the early detection of cancer and health promotion. Sexual and gender minorities have been shown in past research to be significantly less likely to access healthcare services. Consequently, the current study included participants of diverse sexual and gender identities in order to gain greater insight into their concerns and potential reasons for avoiding healthcare services. The current study asked participants to describe their greatest concerns about visiting the doctor for a sexual health exam. Sexual and gender minorities were more likely to mention their identities as being central to their concerns about visiting the doctor. In contrast, the primary concerns mentioned by non-minority participants were related to their actual health, such as the potential diagnosis of cancer or STIs. The current study presents the self-reported reasons that individuals avoid visiting their doctors for sexual health exams as a function of sexual and gender identity. Through understanding how sexual and gender identity are related to the prevalence of specific concerns related to sexual health exams, it becomes possible to determine areas of improvement for increasing healthcare utilisation among marginalised populations. Implications for minority health and recommendations on improving healthcare support for sexual and gender minorities are discussed.

Keywords:

• LGBTQ health
• sexual health
• health equality
• health promotion
• health access

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest or disclosures to make.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Notes on contributors

Rhea Ashley Hoskin

Rhea Ashley Hoskin is a SSHRC-CGS doctoral student at Queen’s University in the Department of Sociology. Using an intersectional lens to push the boundaries of current scholarship, Rhea’s research focuses on femme theory, femme identity, gender identity, social determinants of health and feminist theory.

Karen L. Blair

Karen L. Blair, PhD., is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia, Canada, and founder of KLB Research. Dr. Blair studies the role that social support for relationships plays in the development, maintenance and dissolution of relationships, LGBTQ Psychology, and the connections between relationships, social prejudices and health.

Kathryn E. Jenson

Kathryn E. Jenson is a Master’s student at Acadia University in the Department of Psychology. Kathryn’s research interests are related to sexual trauma, how couples navigate through sexual challenges, LGBTQ relationship functioning, and evidence-based treatments of major sexual dysfunctions.