Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: a Sociodemographic Profile of Primary Healthcare Professionals in the City of Sao Paulo and Their Perceptions on the Issue

Introduction The paper analyses how primary healthcare professionals deal with the health of women and lesbians, gays, bisexuals, trans, travestis, intersex persons, and others (LGBTI +) in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The research primary goal was to identify the sociodemographic and educational determinants of familiarity with and acceptance of sexual and reproductive health and rights. Methods The study is of a mixed nature and associates qualitative and quantitative techniques. The main data collection instrument was semi-structured interviews, issued to and conducted by the main researcher himself with professionals at municipal healthcare clinics and at the six regional offices for health administration of the city of Sao Paulo between March and December, 2019. Results The interviews allowed to understand how the primary health care professional's sociodemographic profile and education have shaped their attitudes towards sexual and reproductive health and rights. Conclusions Educational level proved to be determinant in the preponderance of support of sexual and reproductive health and rights by those professionals with higher education specialized in healthcare and of the greater rejection of these rights among those with only a high school education or higher education in non-healthcare specialties, particularly among managers of primary healthcare clinics. Policy Implications The results might help initiatives to improve the National Policy for LGBT Comprehensive Health.