Discourses on the healthcare of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people adopted by doctors working in Brazil’s Family Health Strategy

The aim of this study was to identify discourses on access to and quality of comprehensive care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people adopted by doctors working in the Family Health Strategy. This article reflects upon how these discourses influence the provision of healthcare to LGBT population. Fifteen doctors from Uberlândia and Belo Horizonte, in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, participated in the study. The analysis of the interviews was underpinned by the principles of social constructionism and based on the following analytical categories: the “no difference discourse”, “don’t know discourse”, “don’t want discourse”. Insights were gained into how these discourses prompt the silencing of issues related to the health status of LGBT people, alienating them from comprehensive universal healthcare. We conclude that to improve care provision for this population, healthcare providers need to change their approach. In this respect, training is urgently needed to improve the accessibility and delivery of comprehensive health services to LGBT people.