Revisión crítica de los estudios que han analizado los problemas de salud de bisexuales, lesbianas y homosexuales

Abstract

A scientific literature review was performed with to main objectives: a) to identify the most common bisexuals, lesbians and homosexuals' (BLH) health problems (BLH) and b) to explore the theoretical, methodological and empirical approaches used for the study of BLH's health and disease problems. Results show: 1) The relationship between homosexuality and disease has been basically explained from two view- points: those who tend to reflect prejudice against homosexuality; and more recently, studies considering that most BLH health problems derive from the oppression they endure, which in its turn is a product of heterosexism, characteristic of most societies. Studies expressing prejudice, consider two approaches: homosexuality as a disease; and HIV/AIDS as an epidemic in evolution in the homosexual population related with sexual practices. Methodological procedures for studies based on the premise that heterosexism causes greater incidence of diseases in BLH include: comparison of the incidence of risk and morbidity factors among heterosexuals and BLH; and analysis of variation of morbidity within the BLH population as a the function of factors such as: stressors, “coming out of the closet" links with the homosexual community transgression of gender stereotypes, violence, discrimination and internalized homophobia Contributions and limitations of each approach are described.