Health of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transvestites and Transsexuals: from Medical Training to Professional Activities

ABSTRACT Introduction The LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transvestite and Transsexual) population is inserted in a very specific context, in terms of their degree of vulnerability to disease, bringing challenges for the consolidation of the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) as a universal, integral and equitable system. Thus, medical practices for the implementation of actions aimed at the care of LGBT can contribute substantially to improving the quality of access to basic health services, but first, health practitioners must undergo medical education and training. Objective To analyze the medical training for health care of the LGBT population from the perspective of primary care physicians. Methods This is an exploratory, descriptive study, with qualitative analysis. The key subjects were 14 physicians who work in Primary Care. Semi-structured interviews were used for the data collection, and the Meanings Interpretation Method was used to produce the data. Results Two categories emerged; the first highlighted the importance of the construction of medical-scientific knowledge for LGBT health, pointing out deficiencies, from the curricular training of the medical course through to the training offered by the services. The second category outlined the fragilities of daily life in the health care of LGBT, pointing out the realities in LGBT health care in the health units. Conclusion there is an urgent need to disseminate and implement a National Health Policy for LGBT, as an effective tool for promoting human rights among medical professionals, from graduation through to professional practice.