Professional care for LGBTI people in rural areas: Knowledge, beliefs and practices. A case study in the La Selva region, Spain

Abstract

Over the last decade, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) policies have been developed in Catalonia (Spain). This has resulted in official efforts to address the needs of LGBTI people in rural areas of a territory that, until recently, had neglected these needs. In this article, through mixed methods research, we analyze the knowledge, beliefs and practices of health care and social service professionals in the region of La Selva. The results show how, despite professionals’ desire to provide good care for LGBTI people, ignorance, prejudice and cisheterocentric outlooks limit professional practice.