16th EUSPR Conference and Members’ Meeting

Inclusive sexual communication matters in the LGTBQ+ community - a cross-sectional study in Austria, 2024

Not scheduled

15m

CharitéCrossOver/0-0 - Atrium (Virchowweg 6)

Poster Posters day 2

Speaker

Alina Novacek (Institute for Surveillance and Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES))

Description

Background
People from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, and other gender identities (LGBTQ+) community face higher risk of sexual transmitted infections and human immunodeficiency infection. Open sexual health (SH) communication with healthcare practitioner (HCP), including doctors, nurses, and therapists, is key for prevention and early detection. We identified determinants with patient’s willingness to discuss SH and propose strategies to support inclusive, person-centred care in Austria.
Methods
During March-December 2024, we conducted an online cross-sectional survey on SH, targeting primarily LGBQT+ and heterosexual persons, aged >18 residing in Austria. The survey was promoted on social media, email newsletters and via printed leaflets handed out at LGTBQ+ events. We described respondents by demographics; then we used the poisson regression analysis (backward model) to calculate the adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) and examine associations of multiple determinants with SH discussed with HCP.
Results
Of 553 respondents 252 (45.6%) were female, 244(44.1%) male, 57 (10.3%) other, and 300 (54.3%) were under the age of 34 years. A total of 200 (36.2%) identified as heterosexual, 145 (26.2%) as men having sex with men, 65 (11.8%) as women having sex with women, and 20 (3.6%) as black or people of color. 129 (23.3%) reported talking about their SH with HCP.
In the final model, respondents who reported discussing SH as important were 65% more likely to choose HCP based on their opening to SH topics (aPR 1.65; 95%CI 1.01-2.69), and similarly, those were 23% more likely to engage in SH discussions with HCP perceived as open to SH topics (aPR 1.23; 95%CI 1.12-1.36).
Conclusion
The opening of HCP to discuss SH influences the willingness of patients to engage in SH conversations and provider selection. There is a need for integrating inclusive SH related communication practices into healthcare settings to improve access and reduce barriers, particularly among marginalized populations.