Lesbian gay bisexual transgender and intersex (LGBTI) students are scrambling for access to healthcare services in the campus healthcare system: Perceptions of key informants

Abstract

This article explores the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) students and focuses specifically on how they access healthcare in the campus health system at a university in South Africa. Semi-structured, in-depth key informant interviews were conducted with selected representatives from all service providers in the campus healthcare system including a gender expert and a student leader. The findings of this study show that LGBTI students are underserved in the campus healthcare system and this is the result of a heteronormative campus environment. The implications of this study suggest the critical need for support from university management, student mobilisation, and sensitisation training for healthcare providers.

Author Biography

A.V. Kleinhans, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

Mr Atholl Kleinhans is a Lecturer, Health Management and Policy at the School of Health Care Science in the Department of Public Health, at the Sefako Makgatho Health Science University. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree with majors in Psychology and Industrial Psychology from the University of Johannesburg in 2001. In 2008 be obtained an Honors Bachelor’s degree (Cum Laude) in Sociology (Social behavioral aspects of HIV/AIDS) from the University of South Africa. In 2013 he obtained a Master degree in Science (Global health) from Maastricht University in the Netherlands. He also completed a higher certificate in Healthcare management at the Foundation for Professional Development (FPD) in 2010. He completed various short courses in Project Management, Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (NOSA), Train the trainer, assessment and moderation of training. Mr Kleinhans has a fervent interest in HIV/AIDS and has been involved in this domain since 2004 in various areas including, psycho-social support, designing HIV prevention programmes, advocation for key populations and LGBTI issues. Mr Kleinhans’s study field is in health sciences with a Thesis titled "A qualitative analysis of the HIV and AIDS policy in Serbia, Novi Sad" focusing on commercial sex workers, intravenous drug users and men who have sex with men. In 2015 he was awarded the HSRC / UCLA fellowship in stigma reduction where he conducted a stigma reduction intervention among students at the University of Johannesburg. Since 2016 he joined Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University where he teach Health systems strengthening in the Department of Public Health.

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Published
2019-11-26
How to Cite
Kleinhans, A.V. 2019. “Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Students Are Scrambling for Access to Healthcare Services in the Campus Healthcare System: Perceptions of Key Informants”. South African Journal of Higher Education 33 (5), 213-29. https://doi.org/10.20853/33-5-3581.