Genç lezbiyen ve biseksüel kadınların sağlık hizmetlerine erişirken yaşadıkları engeller: Türkiye örneği

The purpose of this study is to explore the barriers encountered by bisexual and lesbian women in accessing health care services and, more specifically, sexual and reproductive health care services. The research also explores if bisexual and lesbian women can live their sexual orientation safely and freely (as an indicator of their psychological well-being), which health care services they need concerning sexual and reproductive health, which factors they consider while choosing their health care providers, and the information sources they rely on while seeking health care deriving from document-based analysis and 22 semi-structured interviews with young (aged between 18-30) lesbian and bisexual women. The study analyses the cognitive, structural, and financial barriers while accessing health care services in general and, more specifically, sexual and reproductive health care services. Findings suggest that lesbian and bisexual women do not live their sexual orientation open, safe, and freely. Also, they do not regard themselves as healthy due to different dimensions of health. Unless it is a minor health problem, women do not prefer to go to their family physicians, and nearly none prefer family physicians for receiving sexual and reproductive health services. The most common concern while seeking sexual and reproductive is discrimination.