Health Service Experiences of the Foreign Origin SGMs in Finland: An Intersectional Analysis

Abstract

Abstract Background The size of the sexual and gender minority (SGM) population in Finland is estimated to be between 5 and 15 per cent of the total Finnish population. In the 2019 School Health Promotion Survey, approximately 7-8 per cent of participants who identified as belonging to sexual or gender minorities, also identified as being of foreign origin. Research on the experiences of individuals who belong to sexual and/or gender minorities and also identify as members of the foreign origin population in Finland is, however, limited. Methods Qualitative data on SGMs among foreign origin populations were collected by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare as a part of the Manifold More project. The data collection was implemented through a participatory approach. Semi-structured interviews (n = 40) with the members of the target population and focus group interviews (n = 8) with organizations and projects that work to support the target population were collected. The data was gathered and analyzed with an intersectional approach. Through the analysis, the experiences of sexual and gender minorities who also identify as members of the foreign origin population in Finland were explored. Results The preliminary results suggest that professionals of health and well-being services often lack an intersectional understanding and LGBTQI+ specific matters in their work. This often generates discriminative and detrimental situations when the target population is using health and well-being services. Conclusions There is a growing need for examining the health disparities among the diverse group of SGMs and incorporate an intersectional understanding to the services of health and wellbeing professionals. Key messages Health professionals need to pay specific attention to LGBTQI+ specific matters. It is necessary to incorporate intersectionality in health to services of health and wellbeing.