Mangwegape D S, Manyedi Eva, Molato Boitumelo J
Department of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Institute of Health Sciences, Lobatse, Botswana.
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Science, North West University, Mahikeng, South Africa.
Health SA. 2023 Sep 29;28:2347. doi: 10.4102/hsag.v28i0.2347. eCollection 2023.
Mental health challenges have affected the entire global population including individuals identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and others (LGBTI+). There is documented evidence of a high prevalence of mental health challenges among LGBTI+ community across the globe, but in Botswana there is dearth of literature pertaining to the phenomenon of LGBTI+ mental health challenges.
The study was aimed at exploring and describing the mental health challenges experienced by some people identifying as the LGBTI+ community in Gaborone, Botswana.
The study was conducted in Gaborone in Botswana.
The study adopted a qualitative, phenomenological, descriptive design with 15 participants identified through snowball sampling. LEGABIBO, the LGBTI+ advocacy organisation, served as gatekeeper after Health Research and Development Division under the Ministry of Health and Wellness gave the ethical clearance of the study. Data were collected through unstructured telephonic interviews and recorded with a digital voice recorder.
The study established that some LGBTI+ individuals experienced mental health challenges like experiences of depression, experiences of gender dysphoria, and loneliness and isolation.
It is concluded that individuals identifying as LGBTI+ experience mental health challenges that stem from being stigmatised and discriminated among others.
The findings of the study provide information that may be used in dealing with mental health issues of individuals identifying as LGBTI+. Furthermore, the findings may inform nursing practice, research and education issues on LGBTI+ as well as influence health policy in addressing the mental health issues of those identifying as LGBTI+.
心理健康挑战影响了包括女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋、跨性别者、双性人及其他身份认同者（LGBTI+）在内的全球所有人。有文献记载表明，全球LGBTI+群体中普遍存在心理健康挑战，但在博茨瓦纳，关于LGBTI+心理健康挑战现象的文献却很匮乏。
本研究旨在探索和描述博茨瓦纳哈博罗内一些LGBTI+群体所经历的心理健康挑战。
本研究在博茨瓦纳的哈博罗内进行。
本研究采用定性、现象学、描述性设计，通过滚雪球抽样确定了15名参与者。在健康与福祉部下属的健康研究与发展司给予该研究伦理批准后，LGBTI+倡导组织LEGABIBO担任把关人。数据通过非结构化电话访谈收集，并用数字录音机进行记录。
该研究发现，一些LGBTI+个体经历了诸如抑郁、性别焦虑、孤独和孤立等心理健康挑战。
得出的结论是，LGBTI+群体经历的心理健康挑战源于被污名化和歧视等情况。
该研究结果提供了可用于处理LGBTI+群体心理健康问题的信息。此外，这些结果可能为LGBTI+群体的护理实践、研究和教育问题提供参考，并影响解决LGBTI+群体心理健康问题的卫生政策。
