Ana Macedo, a researcher at the Algarve Biomedical Center and lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of UAlg, has just secured funding for the project “How to promote equity in health for LGBTQIA+ people? – Finding the gaps and training primary care health professionals”, a project financed by the European Commission aimed at supporting and recognizing citizen science initiatives in Europe.
With funding of €20,000 allocated to kickstarting projects under the “Cities for life” topic, this project’s main objective is to contribute to the improvement of the health status and equity of individuals belonging to sexual and/or gender minorities (LGBTQIA+).
The project assesses the knowledge, practices, and perception of discrimination by healthcare professionals working in primary care in the Algarve region regarding health disparities among LGBTQIA+ individuals.
In its second phase, the project includes training and awareness-raising activities.
Discrimination against individuals belonging to sexual and gender minorities exists in various aspects of society, and despite inclusion being part of national and European policies, true equality and inclusion are far from being achieved.
Health is one of the most critical domains, as minority groups have poorer health than the general population. The reasons are multifaceted, with several factors contributing to this outcome. LGBTQIA+ individuals assume that professionals do not know how to handle their issues, fear discrimination, and, therefore, avoid seeking help. On the other hand, healthcare professionals lack specific knowledge, face difficulties in language and communication. The result is a higher burden of diseases and increased mortality.
Addressing the gap and simultaneously raising awareness and providing practical skills to healthcare professionals to be agents of social change regarding LGBTQIA+ inclusion is a challenge aimed at promoting health globally and combating social and economic inequalities, making the Algarve, Portugal, and Europe more resilient and inclusive regions.