Attitudes and experiences about sexual diversity of health professionals in the Central-South zone of Chile

Abstract

Background: Health professionals establish a relationship with LGBTIQA+ users from their own meanings that are manifested in negative or positive attitudes in each encounter with them. Objective: To describe the attitudes towards sexual diversity of health professionals in South-Central Chile. Method: Qualitative study conducted in five cities in Central-Southern Chile. In depth interviews and discussion groups were conducted with 41 professionals, mostly women and midwives. A phenomenological analysis was carried out to describe the attitudes and experiences associated with sexual diversity. The validity of the data was ensured through the audit during the research process and the triangulation of analysts. Results: The health professionals interviewed use definitions based on popular knowledge and predominant culture to structure their personal and professional experiences of sexual diversity. Conclusions: The experiences have a favorable perception of generational change in common, motivation to learn cultural competences that value sexual diversity and low or no professional training; in the sense, the role of the State and universities play an important role in the initial and continuous training on this issue.