Sweden's LGBTQ+ Parents Still Face Barriers in Maternity Care
Twenty years after same-sex couples gained family recognition in Sweden, new research reveals persistent obstacles in pregnancy and birth services for LGBTQ+ parents. The findings highlight gaps in healthcare equity that could inform policy reforms and clinical training across Scandinavian health systems.
Originaltitel: After Two Decades of Family Formation: What Struggles Remain for LGBTQ+ Parents in Swedish Pregnancy and Birth Care?
<p>Opportunities for LGBTQ+ parenthood in Sweden have expanded over the past two decades. This study explores experiences of pregnancy and birth care through a thematic analysis of free-text responses from 405 LGBTQ+ participants during pregnancy and postpartum. Most participants reported satisfaction with care, openness about identity, and little discrimination. Experiences varied across sub-groups. Women in same-sex relationships were generally open and satisfied, though non-birthing mothers were sometimes insufficiently included. Transgender and gender-diverse participants often reported limited competence and occasionally concealed their identity. Bisexual participants in different-sex relationships were typically not open, often viewing their identity as irrelevant in care contexts.</p>