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Mental Health in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Populations in Ghana: an Empirical Study Approach

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Mental Health in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Populations in Ghana: an Empirical Study Approach Texila International Journal of Public Health ISSN: 2520-3134 DOI: 10.21522/TIJPH.2013.08.02.Art033 Mental Health in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Populations in Ghana: An Empirical Study Approach Article by Nathaniel Acolatse Ghana Health Service, Ga West Municipal Health Directorate, Amasaman, Accra, Ghana E-mail: [email protected] Abstract The purpose of this study was to empirically examine the mental health conditions in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender populations in Ghana. The study used data from 494 self-identified lesbian, gay male, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals, recruited via non-probability sampling technique of snow-ball. Descriptive statistics of frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviations were used to describe the distribution of responses of the participants. The inferential statistics of one-way Analysis of Variance (one-way ANOVA), and Pearson Chi-Squared Test of Independence were used to explore differences based on the sexual orientation of the participants. Results from the study showed that engaging in same-gender sexual behavior, LGBTs, especially gays in Ghana were at higher risk of mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicide ideation and attempts as a result of the anti-LGBT environment in Ghana. The results of the study revealed that LGBT individuals in Ghana experience somatization, depression, and anxiety several days. It is recommended based on the findings of the study that the law against LGBT individuals in Ghana should be examined to give some level of freedom to LGBT individuals in Ghana. This will help to reduce the harassment, stigmatization and discrimination against LGBT individuals in Ghana. This could go a long way to help improve the mental health conditions of LGBT individuals in Ghana. The findings of the study provide evidence for areas of potential research, with implications for policy makers, mental health care professionals and the general public. Keywords: Homosexuality, sexual orientation, mental health, lesbian, gay, Ghana. Introduction African countries, LGBT persons face a lot of discrimination, harassment and victimization. All over the world, lesbian, gay, bisexual and However, discrimination, harassment and transgender (LGBT) persons go through a lot of victimization of the LGBT populace on the discrimination, harassment and victimization. continent is seen not to be at a similar dimension Moreover, many countries in the world do not over all the countries on the continent (Zervoulis provide a good condition and safe place for et al, 2015). In fact, it has been discovered that LGBT individuals to live and openly express history, culture and institutional elements impact their sexual orientation (American Psychological the apparent pervasiveness of LGBT harassment, Association, 2008). According to the United victimization and discrimination on the continent Nations, in more than 70 countries, laws make it (Singh and Durso, 2017). As far as institutional a crime to be a lesbian, gay, bisexual and elements are concerned, there is an expansive transgender, exposing millions to the risk of range that includes nations where LGBT activity arrest, imprisonment and, in some cases, is punished to nations where LGBT activity is execution (UNHCR, 2010). In almost every part permitted. For instance, a recent survey for the of the world, LGBT lives are constrained by a Pew Global Attitudes Project puts stigmatization web of laws and social practices which deny against LGBT for Kenya (at 90 percent), Senegal them an equal right to life, liberty and physical (at 96 percent), Nigeria (at 98 percent), and security, as well as other fundamental rights such Uganda (at 96 percent), and Egypt (at 95 percent) as freedom of association, freedom of expression showing particularly high levels of stigmatization and rights to private life, employment, education (Pew, 2013). On the other hand, countries, like and health care (Gibson et al, 2014). Across most Rwanda, Lesotho, Guinea Bissau, Cape Verde, 1 Equatorial Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, discrimination, marginalization, and isolation that Mozambique, and South Africa, have all declared the LGBT individuals face on daily and frequent LGBT activities legal by law (Frimpong, 2018). basis (Remadefi, 2008; Cochran, 2001; Gilman et Unfortunately, while the degree to which al., 2001; Sandfort et. al, 20010). Admittedly, discrimination is institutionalized varies from authors prefer to explain the cause of the mental country to country, almost nowhere in the health problems among LGBT individuals to African continent are LGBT people treated as stigma, prejudice, and discrimination that fully equal before the law (Amnesty promote a stressful social environment for LGBT International, 2001). Vilification and social persons (Meyer, 2003). The majority of studies marginalization of LGBT people is common conducted on the mental health of LGBT place across the African continent, even in individuals have contributed immensely to nations that have decriminalized homosexuality identifying the mental health problems being and instituted anti-discrimination measures experienced by LGBT individuals. However, (Kretz, 2013). Few LGBT people are open about these studies have limitations, and therefore their sexual orientation or gender identity; these create a gap for further studies. First, many of often find themselves the targets of violence and these studies on mental health of LGBT public shaming along with, all too often, murder individuals have been conducted outside Ghana. (Kretz, 2013). The majority of studies conducted on LGBT In relation to the context of this study, there is individuals in Ghana have focused mostly on enough evidence that the Ghanaian society is report from the media, state institutions and laws, homophobic and that LGBT individuals in Ghana and public opinions, with few of these studies dare not disclose their sexuality in public focused on individual cases (Human Right (Frimpong, 2018; MacDarling, 2011; Ofori, Watch, 2017). On the other hand, the few studies 2014; Haruna, 2015; Essien and Aderinto, 2009; that have focused on the health of LGBT Dankwa, 2009; Allotey, 2015; Human Right individuals have usually looked at the general Watch, 2018). The Pew Global Attitudes Project health implications for homosexuals as regards on homosexuality puts stigmatization against diseases such as HIV/AIDS (Anarfi & Owusu, LGBT individuals by Ghanaians at 96 percent, 2010; Nelson et al., 2015; Osafo et al, 2013), depicting a high level of homophobia (Pew, specifically leaving out mental health of LGBT 2013). The legal landscape and social climate for individuals. The second limitation is that LGBT people in Ghana have likely contributed to although population-based samples, an approach an environment in which LGBT people which many of these studies have used are a experience stigma and discrimination (Human major improvement in LGBT research, such Right Watch, 2018). There are many recent approach have produced extremely small number surveys in Ghana suggesting that homophobia is of people who identify themselves as LGBT still widespread and experienced by LGBT (Balsam, et al., 2005). One way to locate large individuals in their daily lives, affecting their samples of people who self-identify as LGBT is psychological wellbeing (Human Right Watch, to recruit participants via LGBT communities. 2018; Quaye et al., 2015; Green et al., 2015). It The purpose of this paper is to empirically has been found by numerous researchers that examine the mental health in lesbian, gay, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender population bisexual, and transgender populations in Ghana. are vulnerable to more mental health problems The paper also examines the suicidal ideation, than their heterosexual counterpart. These suicide attempts, and self-injurious behaviour of investigations have discovered that individuals the LGBTs in Ghana. taking part in same-sex or potentially recognizing Materials and methods as LGBT are at higher risk of mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, substance Description of the site abuse, and suicide ideation and attempts (Austin Ghana is one of the countries on the African et al., 2008; Blake et al., 2001; Bontempo & continent, found on the western part of the D’Augelli, 2002; Cochran et al., 2002; Garofalo continent. Ghana sits on the Atlantic Ocean and et al., 1998; Perdue et al., 2003; Russell et al., shares borders with Togo, Cote d'Ivoire, and 2009; Thiede et al., 2003). These poor health Burkina Faso. Formed from the merger of the outcomes have become inevitable due to the British colony of the Gold Coast and the 2 Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became Symptom Inventory with 53 items was developed the first sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to by Derogatis using a factor analysis and gain its independence. Ghana's population of maintaining the scale structure with the reduced approximately 30 million (Worldometers, 2019) item number of the SCL-90-R (somatization, spans a variety of ethnic, linguistic and religious obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, groups (Ghana Statistical Service [GSS], 2018). depression, anxiety, anger-hostility, phobic According to the 2010 census, 71.2% of the anxiety paranoid ideation and psychoticism).The population are Christians, 17.6% are Muslim, and BSI-18, which is the short version of BSI-53 5.2% practice traditional faiths (GSS, 2013). contains only three six-item scales
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