Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Lesbian, gay and bisexual parents' experiences of nurses' attitudes in child health care-A qualitative study

Andersen, Anna-Eva ; Moberg, Catherine ; Bengtsson Tops, Anita LU and Garmy, Pernilla LU orcid (2017) In Journal of Clinical Nursing 26(23-24). p.5065-5071
Abstract

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe lesbian, gay and bisexual parents' experiences of nurses' attitudes in child healthcare.

BACKGROUND: Lesbian, gay and bisexual people are often reluctant to disclose their gender identity for fear of discrimination. This fear may lead to avoidance of healthcare for themselves or their children and may negatively affect families' health and well-being.

DESIGN: A qualitative inductive design was employed.

METHODS: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 14 lesbian, gay or bisexual parents (11 mothers and three fathers) with child health care experiences in southern Sweden. Interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS: Two themes were identified. One, a... (More)

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe lesbian, gay and bisexual parents' experiences of nurses' attitudes in child healthcare.

BACKGROUND: Lesbian, gay and bisexual people are often reluctant to disclose their gender identity for fear of discrimination. This fear may lead to avoidance of healthcare for themselves or their children and may negatively affect families' health and well-being.

DESIGN: A qualitative inductive design was employed.

METHODS: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 14 lesbian, gay or bisexual parents (11 mothers and three fathers) with child health care experiences in southern Sweden. Interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS: Two themes were identified. One, a "sense of marginalisation," included lesbian, gay and bisexual parents' experiences of heteronormative attitudes among child healthcare nurses which led them to feel alienated and questioned as parents. Another, "being respected for who you are," included experiences of being respected and included at child healthcare appointments.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings paint a complex picture of lesbian, gay and bisexual parents' interactions with child healthcare nurses in that they experienced both positive and negative attitudes. Knowledge gaps about lesbian, gay and bisexual families within the child healthcare field must be filled.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Child health care nurses should work with the entire family to provide the best care for the child; however, discrimination in health care is common and often caused by a lack of knowledge. The number of children living with same-sex parents has increased more than ten-fold since the end of the 1990s. It is therefore important to explore lesbian, gay and bisexual parents' experiences with child healthcare nurses' attitudes to improve quality of care.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Clinical Nursing
volume
26
issue
23-24
pages
5065 - 5071
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85030636786
  • wos:000416319600120
  • pmid:28793389
ISSN
1365-2702
DOI
10.1111/jocn.14006
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ba833edd-3815-4931-a1b4-92d624ad8a0c
date added to LUP
2017-10-08 12:44:15
date last changed
2024-02-13 08:21:24
@article{ba833edd-3815-4931-a1b4-92d624ad8a0c,
  abstract     = {{<p>AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To describe lesbian, gay and bisexual parents' experiences of nurses' attitudes in child healthcare.</p><p>BACKGROUND: Lesbian, gay and bisexual people are often reluctant to disclose their gender identity for fear of discrimination. This fear may lead to avoidance of healthcare for themselves or their children and may negatively affect families' health and well-being.</p><p>DESIGN: A qualitative inductive design was employed.</p><p>METHODS: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 14 lesbian, gay or bisexual parents (11 mothers and three fathers) with child health care experiences in southern Sweden. Interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis.</p><p>RESULTS: Two themes were identified. One, a "sense of marginalisation," included lesbian, gay and bisexual parents' experiences of heteronormative attitudes among child healthcare nurses which led them to feel alienated and questioned as parents. Another, "being respected for who you are," included experiences of being respected and included at child healthcare appointments.</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: Findings paint a complex picture of lesbian, gay and bisexual parents' interactions with child healthcare nurses in that they experienced both positive and negative attitudes. Knowledge gaps about lesbian, gay and bisexual families within the child healthcare field must be filled.</p><p>RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Child health care nurses should work with the entire family to provide the best care for the child; however, discrimination in health care is common and often caused by a lack of knowledge. The number of children living with same-sex parents has increased more than ten-fold since the end of the 1990s. It is therefore important to explore lesbian, gay and bisexual parents' experiences with child healthcare nurses' attitudes to improve quality of care.</p>}},
  author       = {{Andersen, Anna-Eva and Moberg, Catherine and Bengtsson Tops, Anita and Garmy, Pernilla}},
  issn         = {{1365-2702}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{08}},
  number       = {{23-24}},
  pages        = {{5065--5071}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Journal of Clinical Nursing}},
  title        = {{Lesbian, gay and bisexual parents' experiences of nurses' attitudes in child health care-A qualitative study}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/35022646/32892317.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/jocn.14006}},
  volume       = {{26}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}