During the last LGBT Pride Parade, the State Department of Health carried out a survey which shows that 59% of gay teenagers do not seek medical assistance in health centers, clinics or hospitals.
576 young people, under 20 years of age, were interviewed, who claimed fear of suffering prejudice and discrimination when seeking medical help. The research shows that 82% of the interviews assessed health services as inadequate and exclusionary.
"Gay teenagers feel withdrawn and resist seeking medical and psychological support at a health unit", says the Secretariat's Adolescent Health coordinator, Albertina Duarte Takiuti.
According to Albertina, "the health network needs to welcome these teenagers, and not inhibit them, as vulnerability can make young people adopt risky behaviors."
According to the Secretariat, a specific program is being developed to assist the LGBT community, with the aim of structuring the entire public health network to deal with these young people, without prejudice and focusing on the prevention of sexual diseases.
