Association between Homophobia and Sociodemographic Characteristics in Health Workers in Southern Chile

Oscar Oyarce-Vildósola, Alejandra Rodríguez-Fernández () and Eduard Maury-Sintjago ()
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Oscar Oyarce-Vildósola: Master’s Degree Program in Public Health, Faculty of Health and Food Sciences, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Chillan 3780000, Chile
Alejandra Rodríguez-Fernández: Department of Nutrition and Public Health, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Chillan 3780000, Chile
Eduard Maury-Sintjago: Department of Nutrition and Public Health, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Chillan 3780000, Chile

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 21, 1-9

Abstract: Homophobic attitude in health workers is a social determinant in the health of the homosexual population because it affects healthcare and its access and equity. The objective was to determine the relationship between the level of homophobia and sociodemographic characteristics of primary health workers in southern Chile. This was an analytical cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 491 public servants from health centers in southern Chile. The attitudes toward lesbians and gay men (ATLG) scale was applied, and a binary logistic regression model was performed to evaluate the association. The study participants were predominantly women (76.0%), under 40 years of age (63.5%), heterosexuals (93.5%), and unpartnered (68.2%) but with children (61.7%), and they also had an educational attainment ≥ 12 years (66.6%). About 87.6% of the participants held healthcare positions, and the majority were religious believers (74.3%) and had a centrist political affiliation (51.0%). Results indicated that 34% of the participants exhibited homophobic attitudes; there were statistically significant differences with respect to age, number of children, educational attainment, religion, and political affiliation ( p < 0.01). These were higher in individuals ≥40 years of age, with ≥3 children, with educational attainment ≥ 12 years, holding a healthcare position, who were religious believers, and who had right-wing political affiliation.

Keywords: homophobia; health workers; LGBTIQ+ (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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