Health Discrimination Against LGBT+ Individuals and Arts-Based Approaches: A Systematic Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33719/sexscij.2604.27Keywords:
arts-based research, health personnel, health promotion, perceived discrimination, sexual and gender minoritiesAbstract
Objective: Stigma remains a major barrier preventing LGBT+ individuals from accessing healthcare services. Many of these barriers arise from insufficient professional training and from persistent misconceptions that LGBT+ people seek care only for the treatment of sexually transmitted infections or for gender transition and reassignment procedures. This article explores healthcare discrimination experienced by LGBT+ populations in clinical settings and examines the role of arts-based mobilization strategies in improving healthcare provision in Brazil.
Methods: A systematic review of empirical and literature-based studies published between 2020 and 2025 was conducted. Articles in Portuguese and English were retrieved from BVSalud, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CAPES, and SciELO, using the Boolean operators AND and OR and the following keywords: “arts-based intervention,” “health disparities,” “health outcomes,” “knowledge mobilization,” “prejudice,” “sexism,” and “sexual and gender minorities.”
Results: Knowledge mobilization through the arts remains an underexplored approach in the Brazilian context. The studies reviewed revealed that LGBT+ individuals face multiple barriers to healthcare access, frequently linked to prejudice, discrimination, and violence. Another recurring issue was the lack of professional preparedness, attributed to the absence of LGBT+ related content in academic training and to persistent gaps in continuing education across all levels of healthcare. Furthermore, the vulnerability of older LGBT+ individuals was highlighted.
Conclusion: Overall, the findings depict a healthcare landscape marked by systemic inequalities, adverse effects on physical and mental health, limited technical and ethical readiness among professionals, and an urgent need for effective public policies and ongoing professional training to address these vulnerabilities.
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