Inclusion of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Populations in Mongolian Health Policy: A Scoping Review and Critical Discourse Analysis
Dorjjantsan Ganbaatar, Thiago M. Santos, Nicholas Hill, Enkhmaa Enkhbold, Erdeneburen Dorjpurev, Sugarmaa Myagmarjav, Cathy Vaughan, Meghan A. BohrenPurpose:
This review explored the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) people in current Mongolian health policies, providing an overview and identifying gaps to improve inclusion.
Methods:
We conducted a scoping review of health policies and used critical discourse analysis (CDA) to explore how policy language constructs LGBTQI identities, representation in policies, and opportunities for inclusion. CDA assessed LGBTQI inclusion across three levels: textual, contextual, and societal. We included currently active, publicly accessible policies relevant to LGBTQI health, with no date restrictions. Policies were identified through targeted searches of two government websites (Legal Info, Ministry of Health), incorporated with a reference search and expert consultation.
Results:
The final analysis included 24 documents, and 25 different LGBTQI related terms were identified. LGBTQI communities were mostly mentioned in sexually transmitted infection (STI) related policies, and the most common terms were associated with high-risk sexual behavior. Only one document specifically focused on the LGBTQI community, while four identified LGBTQI people as a priority group; however, all primarily referred to men who have sex with men (MSM), with some including transgender women. At the societal level, we identified three recurring framings (problem, victimhood, and invisible) which reflected broader social norms and values about LGBTQI people.
Conclusion:
LGBTQI inclusion in Mongolia’s health policies remains limited, and primarily centered on STI risk among MSM and sometimes transgender women. This has resulted in the needs of other sub-communities being overlooked, rendering lesbian and bisexual women, transgender men, and intersex people largely invisible.