Concerns, Health Profiles, and Quality of Life of LGBTQIA+ Individuals in Maharashtra: A Mixed-Methods Study

The abbreviation LGBTQIA+, short for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual, unites a wide range of gender and sexual identities that are frequently marginalized in society. Compared to their peers and coworkers from heterosexual groups, they have less access to public health facilities, which causes physical, mental, social, and financial issues. Hence, the objectives of the study are to explore the concerns and evaluate the health profile and quality of life of LGBTQIA+ individuals in Maharashtra.  Materials and methods: Our study employed an exploratory mixed-methods approach in a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Maharashtra. For the qualitative part, three focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted, each with seven, seven, and six participants. In contrast, the quantitative part studied sociodemographic details, health profiles, concerns faced, and quality of life, using the World Health Organization Quality of Life - Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) scale among 200 self-identified individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community.

Recurring concerns that emerged during FGDs were lack of family support, bullying, discrimination at schools and workplaces, and economic and legal problems. Psychological health was the most affected domain, with a mean score of 58.31 ± 6.48. The participants included 76 (38%) bisexual men, 23 (11.5%) bisexual women, 62 (31%) gay men, 11 (5.5%) lesbian women, and 24 (12%) individuals identifying as transgender. HIV/AIDS infection (73, 36.5%) was the most common morbidity. Transgender individuals were found to have lower levels of education, lower socioeconomic status, more discrimination faced at school and in the workplace (p < 0.001 each), and significantly lower quality of life (p = 0.002).

The present mixed-methods study highlighted significant disparities in health profile, quality of life, and lived experiences among the LGBTQIA+ community. The transgender community was seen to be significantly more impacted compared to others in terms of health, concerns faced, and quality of life.