Beyond the curriculum: A gay medical student’s perceptions of health sciences education and healthcare access in KwaZulu-Natal

Background: The prevailing social constructs of cis-heteronormativity and endosexism have structurally marginalised sexual and gender minorities, leading to their limited representation and inclusion in mainstream health systems and health sciences education. Aim: The study aimed to explore a gay medical student’s perceptions of the health sciences curriculum and their experiences in accessing and utilising healthcare services offered both by the university and externally. Setting: At a university in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Methods: This study originates from a larger qualitative study conducted in 2018, involving 12 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT)-identifying participants who were selected using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. The larger study used a case study approach to explore how healthcare services meet the sexual health needs of LGBT youth. Among the 12 sampled participants, one participant self-identified as ‘gay’ and was pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. This participant was specifically selected for analysis in this study because of their knowledge of health sciences education and pursuit of a career in healthcare. Results: Three themes were identified in the participant’s interview, including: (1) navigating healthcare services as a young gay man, (2) silenced voices: the impact of the limited Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Asexual and + (LGBTIQA+) health education, and (3) challenging the silenced voices. Conclusion: There is a need for a well-planned curriculum that includes LGBTIQA+ issues to equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge to provide high-quality care to all patients, regardless of their sex, gender, or sexuality. Contribution: The study provides solid proposals for developing an inclusive healthcare curriculum that considers identities beyond binary going forward.