Prevalence of public health problems among LGBT+ individuals
Several researches have been performed regarding the health aspects of LGBT+ people. The general health conditions of the LGBT+ individuals are worse in comparison with the heterosexual people. The main aim of this assignment is to focus of the LGBT+ people and the health inequities that are faced by them because of their gender. Discussion regarding the policy and rules which addresses the particular kind of inequities and recognition of gaps in the legislation and policy is to be highlighted. Exploration is to be done regarding the developments of policy that are with the objective to deal with the health inequities. Recommendations are to be provided which can fill the gaps in legislation and policy.
The LGBT+ individuals are prone to public health problems (Hibbert et al. 2019). The LGBT+ individuals suffer from greater presence of health inequities and the health issues because of their gender (Higgins et al. 2019). There is the proof regarding the prevalence of physical issues that are varied because of gender orientation, recommending different health requirements based on gender orientation. There is an emerging body of proofs which highlights that syndemic inequalities of health are encountered by LGBT+ and they might face increased inequalities in terms of gender oriented health (Hegazi and Pakianathan 2018).
In comparison with the heterosexual men, it is found that the gay men are more subjected to prostate and anal cancer. In a simultaneous manner, the lesbians are less likely in comparison with the heterosexual women to perform breast related examination of self. The aged LGBT+ people face tremendous health and care related problems (Westwood 2020).
The LGBT+ individuals experience long duration effects regarding the HIV medication associated with health. Resources are accessible which provide suggestions to the healthcare servers on the health disparities that are encountered by the LGBT+ and the way healthcare firms can be an inclusive organisation (Webster and Drury-Smith 2021). The estimation is made that approximately 3% of the adults who are present in the UK, are recognised as LGBT+, who are present with their gender orientation different from the heterosexual people (Berner et al. 2021).
Proofs oriented with the prevalence of HIV is much more in bisexual and gay men, that makes them subjected to different other health issues such as cognitive impairment, metabolic problems and cardiovascular issues.
It is because of their gender; LGBT+ people face vital discrimination (Westwood 2020). It is found that because of their gender structure, gay men as well as lesbians suffer from diabetes more in comparison with the national average.
It is found that the Trans women are less seen to report regarding psychological pressure in comparison with the trans men as well as the non-binary individuals. They call for the launch of inclusive practises so that the gender based health inequities which are faced by minority people, can be overcome. The minority groups such as the LGBT+ face inequalities to health as they are present with unique healthcare requirements (Berner et al. 2021).
The LGBT+ faces crucial health inequities throughout their span of life, which begins mostly at a young age. There is a clear proof regarding health inequities between the cis-hetero-sexual and the LGBT+ people. There is the presence of a high appetite from the government of the UK and the policy developers, Public Health England and NHS England so that address can be done regarding the LGBT+ health inequity. In the previous year, half of the LGBT+ individuals have faced depression and three among five encountered anxiety, that is much greater in number than the general people (Stonewall.org.uk, 2022). It is found that a wide array of LGBT+ people faces suicidal tendencies (Rivers et al. 2018). A worrying number of LGBT individuals mentions that they are forced to gain access regarding the deteriorating conversation therapies to transform their gender identity. The depression rates are also greater among the LGBT individuals who have faced a hate crime because of their gender (Stonewall.org.uk, 2022). To critically analyse, it can be stated that the LGBT+ people faces severe health disparities, which are the weakness that they face. On the other hand, the strength of the situation is that policies are made in the UK to deal with the stated issue. It is essential to innovate optimal practice and the programs of improvement to support and mitigate the health inequities which are faced by the community of LGBT+.
Health issues because of gender orientation
Health inequities and the obstructions to gain access to healthcare is present because of the interconnected factors like gender and several sub-populations. It is required that the address of these issues can be performed through policy, legislation and the development of services (McCann and Brown 2019). There is the presence of certain major points associated with the aspect of policy which are essential to be mentioned. First of all, the establishment regarding Health and Social Care Act 2012 was the preliminary regulatory duties for several bodies to address health disparities. For instance, the bodies such as Public Health England are now working towards the inequalities of health. On the other hand, the local authorities have examined transformation to the activities in terms of public health. In this manner, the new obligations develop strength to the responsibilities to improve the equality which are highlighted in the Equality Act 2010 (Ilcuk.org.uk, 2022). The legislation which is addressing the particular kind of inequity is Gender Recognition Act, 2004 (Ngalaw.co.uk, 2022). In accordance with this legislation, if an individual is Trans and has taken birth in the UK and with the desire to change his birth certificate, then application should be done for this legislation (Ngalaw.co.uk, 2022). This legislation formally transforms legal gender oriented to wider objectives under English law, as set out by the legislation. This legislation helps is solving the gender related inequities of LGBT+ people (Ngalaw.co.uk, 2022).
The Health and Social Care Act imposed new duties regarding the health of the public (Ilcuk.org.uk, 2022). Their responsibility to develop improvement regarding the health of the public is oriented to the robust data which are associated with the health requirements of particular groups. It is conveyed by the UK Equality Act 2010 that treatment of LGBT+ individuals must be performed without any kind of discrimination. It is mentioned by the Equality Act 2010 that discrimination must not be done to any people because of their gender. It is important to increase the contribution of nursing to reduce the health related inequalities that are encountered by LGBT+ population (McCann and Brown 2020). The Equality Act, 2010 serves all the workers that comprises of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans individuals from victimisation, discrimination and harassment. The Equality Act can be termed as the landmark legislation piece which can cause expansion regarding the Federal Civil rights in order to provide protection to the LGBT+ people from facing gender based health inequities and less access to healthcare provision. From the viewpoints of the individuals who are recognised as LGBT+, there are obstructions associated with marginalisation, getting discriminated against socially, human rights and inclusion (McCann and Brown 2020).
This act receives effective support among the people of the UK and a wide range of stakeholders. This law provides help to the LGBT+ people from getting discriminated against. Funding is provided to a broad range of programs that comprise the community healthcare centres. Amendment is done by the Equality Act to make inclusion of the gender, that implies that protection should be provided to the LGBT+ population from getting discriminated against, refusal regarding any kind of programs and mistreatment.
Health disparities across the cis-hetero-sexual and LGBT+ people
Since the establishment of the Equality Act in the year 2010, the services of healthcare that are present in the UK, are present with a regulatory obligation to ensure the steps towards developing inclusive as well as the healthcare firms which are friendly to the LGBT+ (McCann et al. 2021). The amendments that were developed by the Equality Act 2010, the women must no longer be charged increased prices in comparison with the men regarding the equivalent or denied healthcare services and the establishments which serve healthcare.
However, the gap that is related with the Equality Act is that this act might threaten the homeless shelters which develop their housing in accordance with the biological sex. The policy must make it sure that the LGBT+ people must have effective availability to the required healthcare services. An effective starting point to deal with the policy gap would be to mitigate the reduction of operational as well as clinical guidelines that are developed particularly to maternity care for the LGBT+ parents (McCann et al. 2021). Therefore, it can be stated that the major gaps in the mentioned policy are the lack of inclusiveness, quality assurance and reduction of appropriate data about the LGBT+ individuals to decrease the issue.
It is oriented to research; three major areas are highlighted that are recommended to be taken into consideration in the future policy. People who are LGBT+ face an increased rate of mental health issues and symptoms as compared with the heterosexual and the cis-gender people (Gorczynski 2021). The recommendations are:
- Appointment should be made of National LGBT health advisor, so that leadership can be provided to decrease the health inequities that are encountered by LGBT+ individuals (publishing.service.gov.uk, 2022)
- Monitoring should be done regarding the gender orientation of patients as well as gender identity, which are helped by the training provided by practitioners to recognise the inequities in LGBT patients. The development regarding targeted initiatives and services should be done to address these issues
- The Government must be committed to help the LGBT+ individuals live healthy lives, so that they can survive without the fears of getting discriminated (publishing.service.gov.uk, 2022). Ensure regarding the availability of LGBT inclusive data as well as resources readily provided to the patients.
- Action is essential to make sure that the mainstream health services and care provision are inclusive. It implies that certain surroundings should be provided in which the LGBT+ individuals are with the feeling of comfort and safety.
- It must be ensured by the Government of the UK that the requirements of the LGBT+ individuals are at the core of the National Health Service (publishing.service.gov.uk, 2022).
- Improvement must be done regarding data collection about older LGBT+ individuals and their care as well as health needs
The health provisions that are served to the older LGBT+ population will impose an effect regarding the shape of inequalities that the mentioned group faces. With the objective to develop inclusion, activities are required to improve awareness oriented to inclusive services. The focus of the policy must be on diversity and equality training, particularly to accomplish the requirements of LGBT+ individuals.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that in this assignment, highlight the done regarding the several health inequalities that are encountered by the LGBT+ population group. All these health inequities are faced by them because of their gender orientation. Critical analysis of this aspect is performed, identifying that there are certain policies in the UK which can help to solve the stated health inequities which are faced. The policies and regulations which are established in the UK in order to provide equal services to the LGBT+ community are highlighted along with the identification regarding the gaps present in the policy. Suggestions or recommendations are provided so that the gaps in the policy can be closed. The recommendations are all in terms of the policy gaps, with the objective to improve the situation and health inequities which the LGBT+ population are subjected to.
References
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