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Hughes TL, Bochicchio L, Drabble L, Muntinga M, Jukema JS, Veldhuis CB, Bruck S, Bos H. Health disparities in one of the world's most progressive countries: a scoping review of mental health and substance use among sexual and gender minority people in the Netherlands. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2533. [PMID: 38110908 PMCID: PMC10729573 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17466-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence from many parts of the world shows that sexual and gender minority (SGM) people have poorer health than their cisgender heterosexual counterparts. Minority stressors, particularly stigma and discrimination, have been identified as major contributors to sexual orientation- and gender identity-related health disparities, particularly negative mental health and behavioral health outcomes. To better understand factors that contribute to these disparities, we conducted a scoping review of SGM mental health and substance use research in the Netherlands-a country with a long-standing reputation as a pioneer in SGM equality. METHODS Using Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and the PRISMA-ScR protocol, we searched seven databases to identify studies published between 2010 and 2022 that focused on substance use and/or mental health of SGM youth and adults in the Netherlands. RESULTS Although there was some evidence that SGM people in the Netherlands report fewer substance use and mental health concerns than those in less progressive countries, with very few exceptions studies found poorer outcomes among SGM participants than cisgender, heterosexual participants. However, this observation must be considered cautiously given major gaps in the literature. For example, only one study focused exclusively on adult sexual minority women, two focused on older SGM adults, and very little attention was given to nonbinary individuals. Most studies used non-probability samples that were quite homogenous. Many studies, especially those with youth, assessed sexual orientation based on sexual attraction; some studies of adults operationalized SGM status as having a same-sex partner. Importantly, we found no studies that directly assessed associations between structural-level stigma and health outcomes. Studies were mostly focused at the individual level and on health problems; very little attention was given to strengths or resilience. CONCLUSIONS Findings of persistent health disparities-despite the relatively long history of SGM supportive policies in the Netherlands-highlight the need for more research and greater attention to population groups that have been underrepresented. Such research would not only provide guidance on strategies to improve the health of SGM people in the Netherlands, but also in other countries that are seeking to reduce health inequities. Addressing SGM health disparities in the Netherlands and elsewhere is complex and requires a multifaceted approach that addresses individual, interpersonal and structural factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tonda L Hughes
- School of Nursing, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical School, Center for Sexual and Gender Minority Health Research, 560 West 168 Street, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Lauren Bochicchio
- Columbia University School of Nursing Center for Sexual and Gender Minority Health Research, 560 West 168th Street, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laurie Drabble
- College of Health and Human Sciences, San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA, USA
| | - Maaike Muntinga
- Department of Ethics, Law and Humanities, Amsterdam UMC location VUmc, De Boelelaan 1118, Amsterdam, 1081 HZ, Netherlands
| | - Jan S Jukema
- School of Health, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, M. H. Tromplaan 28, Enschede, 7513 AB, Netherlands
| | - Cindy B Veldhuis
- Departments of Medical Social Sciences, Psychology, Psychiatry, and Obstetrics & Gynecology, Northwestern University, 625 N. Michigan Ave., 14th Floor, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Sunčica Bruck
- Kohnstamm Instituut, Keizer Karelplein 1, Amstelveen, 1185 HL, Netherlands
| | - Henny Bos
- Research Institute Child Development and Education, Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1012 WX, Netherlands
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Crawshaw M, Pericleous-Smith A, Dark S. Counselling challenges associated with donor conception and surrogacy treatments - time for debate. HUM FERTIL 2022; 25:806-812. [PMID: 34240666 DOI: 10.1080/14647273.2021.1950850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Fertility counselling services have had to respond to significant developments in fertility treatments in recent years, prompting increasingly complex personal and professional ethical challenges. This Commentary focuses on those rising from donor conception and/or surrogacy. The profile of those seeking such treatments has changed to include growing numbers of same sex couples, single people, people who are transitioning or have done, people seeking posthumous use of gametes, and people using cross-border services. Alongside, awareness has grown of life-span implications, the impact of commercial DNA testing, and the need for 'later-life' support. Responses vary internationally and the time for debate is overdue. Who should provide fertility counselling and how? Should specialist qualifications, training, continuing professional development, and regulation be required? Should counsellors play a role in assessing suitability to parents? What aspects of different contractual arrangements and conflicts of interest need attention? Has the time come for counselling to be mandatory as part of pre-treatment pathways? What should be the relationship between fertility counsellors and multi-disciplinary clinic teams? How might fertility counsellors be represented nationally and internationally? What should be their relationship to 'later life' professional support? What place should professional knowledge hold in the evidence base?
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Affiliation(s)
- Marilyn Crawshaw
- Department of Social Policy & Social Work, University of York, York, UK
| | | | - Suzanne Dark
- Jessop Fertility, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Sheffield, UK
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Kirubarajan A, Barker LC, Leung S, Ross LE, Zaheer J, Park B, Abramovich A, Yudin MH, Lam JSH. LGBTQ2S+ childbearing individuals and perinatal mental health: A systematic review. BJOG 2022; 129:1630-1643. [PMID: 35048502 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.17103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The perinatal period may uniquely impact the mental health and wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and Two-Spirit (LGBTQ2S+) childbearing individuals. OBJECTIVES To characterise and synthesise the experiences of LGBTQ2S+ childbearing individuals regarding perinatal mental health, including symptomatology, access to care and care-seeking. SEARCH STRATEGY We conducted and reported a systematic review following PRISMA guidelines of eight databases (EMBASE, MEDLINE-OVID, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science: Core Collection, Sociological Abstracts, Social Work Abstract, and PsycINFO) from inception to 1 March 2021. SELECTION CRITERIA Original, peer-reviewed research related to LGBTQ2S+ mental health was eligible for inclusion if the study was specific to the perinatal period (defined as pregnancy planning, conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and first year postpartum; includes miscarriages, fertility treatments and surrogacy). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Findings were synthesised qualitatively via meta-aggregation using the Joanna Briggs Institute System for the Unified Management, Assessment and Review of Information (JBI SUMARI), and the ConQual approach. MAIN RESULTS Our systematic search included 26 eligible studies encompassing 1199 LGBTQ2S+ childbearing participants. Using the JBI SUMARI approach, we reported 65 results, which we synthesised as six key findings. The studies described unique considerations for LGBTQ2S+ individuals' perinatal mental health, including heteronormativity, cisnormativity, isolation, exclusion from traditional pregnancy care, stigma, and distressing situations from the gendered nature of pregnancy. Many participants described a lack of knowledge from healthcare providers related to care for LGBTQ2S+ individuals. In addition, LGBTQ2S+ individuals described barriers to accessing mental healthcare and gaps in health systems. Strategies to improve care include provider education, avoidance of gendered language, documentation of correct pronouns, trauma-informed practices, cultural humility training and tailored care for LGBTQ2S+ people. CONCLUSIONS Pregnancy, postpartum, and the perinatal period uniquely impacts the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ2S+individuals, largely due to systems-level inequities and exclusion from perinatal care. Healthcare providers should implement the identified strategies to improve perinatal care and address inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abirami Kirubarajan
- University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, ON, Canada.,University of Toronto Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lucy C Barker
- University of Toronto Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, Toronto, ON, Canada.,University of Toronto Department of Psychiatry, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shannon Leung
- University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lori E Ross
- University of Toronto Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Juveria Zaheer
- University of Toronto Department of Psychiatry, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bomi Park
- University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alex Abramovich
- University of Toronto Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mark H Yudin
- University of Toronto Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Unity Health, St Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - June Sing Hong Lam
- University of Toronto Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, Toronto, ON, Canada.,University of Toronto Department of Psychiatry, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Carone N, Gartrell NK, Rothblum ED, Koh AS, Bos HMW. The stability of psychological adjustment among donor-conceived offspring in the U.S. National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study from childhood to adulthood: differences by donor type. Fertil Steril 2021; 115:1302-1311. [PMID: 33541691 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study differences by sperm donor type in the psychological adjustment of the U.S. National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study (NLLFS) offspring across three time periods from childhood to adulthood. DESIGN U.S.-based prospective cohort study. SETTING Paper-and-pencil questionnaires and protected online surveys. PATIENT(S) A cohort of 74 offspring conceived by lesbian parents using an anonymous (n = 26), a known (n = 26), or an open-identity (n = 22) sperm donor. Data were reported when offspring were ages 10 (wave 4), 17 (wave 5), and 25 (wave 6). INTERVENTION(S) None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist administered to lesbian parents when offspring were ages 10 and 17 and the Achenbach Adult Self-Report administered to offspring at age 25. RESULT(S) In both relative and absolute stability, no differences were found in internalizing, externalizing, and total problem behaviors by donor type over 15 years. However, both externalizing and total problem behaviors significantly declined from age 10 to 17 and then increased from age 17 to 25. Irrespective of donor type, among the 74 offspring, the large majority scored continuously within the normal range on internalizing (n = 62, 83.8%), externalizing (n = 62, 83.8%), and total problem behaviors (n = 60, 81.1%). CONCLUSION(S) The results reassure prospective lesbian parents and provide policy makers and reproductive medicine practitioners with empirical evidence that psychological adjustment in offspring raised by lesbian parents is unrelated to donor type in the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Carone
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, Lab on Attachment and Parenting - LAG, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
| | - Nanette K Gartrell
- Williams Institute, School of Law, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Esther D Rothblum
- Department of Women's Studies, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
| | - Audrey S Koh
- School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Henny M W Bos
- Research Institute of Child Development and Education, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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