Risk factors to mental health challenges among the LGBTI+ community in Gaborone, Botswana

TL;DR

This study explores the mental health challenges faced by the LGBTI+ community in Gaborone, Botswana, and identifies contributing factors.

Contribution

The study is the first to investigate specific risk factors for mental health challenges among the LGBTI+ community in Botswana.

Findings

Three themes emerged: reasons for mental health challenges, healthcare access issues, and social challenges.

Factors influencing mental health problems include social and healthcare-related stressors.

The findings can inform mental healthcare, nursing education, and policy development for the LGBTI+ community.

Abstract

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and other gender diverse groupings symbolised by + (LGBTI+) individuals experience adverse mental health problems, and several factors have been documented to facilitate such problems. However, in Botswana, the factors facilitating LGBTI+ individuals to experience mental health challenges have not been explored with previous studies only highlighting the poor mental health outcomes they experience.

The aim of the study was to explore and describe factors that could cause mental health challenges in LGBTI+ individuals in Gaborone, Botswana.

A qualitative, descriptive, phenomenological design was employed to examine the research question. In data collection, 15 unstructured in-depth telephonic interviews were conducted until data saturation. Data were analysed with a co-coder using the data analysis method by Colaizzi.

Three themes emerged following data analysis and were reasons for experiencing mental health challenges, experiences of challenges in accessing healthcare services and the social challenges of everyday life.

The findings indicate that a variety of factors influence the mental health problems in some LGBTI+ individuals.

The knowledge of the factors that cause LGBTI+ individuals’ mental health challenges can inform mental healthcare to be rendered. The findings can apprise nursing curriculum development and policy regarding the needs of LGBTI+ individuals.