Pre-migration trauma and post-migration health burdens among sexuality and gender minority forced migrants: an exploratory qualitative study

Worldwide, too many sexuality and gender minority individuals face significant danger due to their identity(ies), compelling them to seek refuge in another country. This qualitative study explored the pre-migration trauma and post-migration health burdens of sexuality and gender minority forced migrants in Sweden. Between April and June 2023, 34 participants were recruited using convenience, purposive, and snowball sampling and interviewed individually using semi-structured interviews. Inductive qualitative content analysis was conducted collaboratively by two researchers and two sexuality and gender minority forced migrants. The findings reveal the deep impact of societal oppression and violence in participants' home countries, where they endured physical violence, torture, conversion attempts, and death threats, often from both community members and family. Escaping these dangers was filled with further risks. During resettlement, participants continued to face significant challenges, experiencing both mental and physical health issues, as well as profound loneliness.