Abstract:

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population experience myriads of health disparities. The purpose of this study was to examine the health disparities among the LGBT population in Ghana, as no study has been specifically conducted in Ghana to examine such area of study. The study specifically sought to determine the mental, physical and the behavioral health disparities among the LGBTs in Ghana. A total of 494 self-identified LGBTs, recruited via non-probability sampling technique of snow-ball participated in the study. The survey included four categories of survey items: demographic information, mental health behavioral health, and the physical health conditions of the LGBTs. The findings of the study indicated that the LGBT population in Ghana experience a number of health disparities, ranging from behavioral, physical and mental health. The results from the one-way analysis of variance revealed that lesbian and gay population in Ghana experience mental, behavioral, and physical health conditions more than their bisexuals and transgender. It was found that lesbians and gay engage in excessive use of tobacco, over-use of alcohol, use of drugs, and engage in unprotected sex behaviours more than their bisexual and transgender counterparts (p<.05). The findings of the study also revealed that the lesbians and gays in Ghana have higher risks of cancer, being overweight or obese, and the risk of being diagnosed with stroke (p<.05). Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that the mental behavioral and the physical health of the LGBTs in Ghana should be given the needed attention.

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