Health Care Disparities in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered (LGBT) Community It is important to identify at risk populations who suffer from health care disparities in order to decrease these disparities. Health care disparities can result in negative health outcomes when at risk populations are not afforded proper health treatment. According to Ranji, Beamesderfer, Kates, and Salganicoff (2014) health concerns and risk factors affecting the LGBT community include HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), drug abuse, mental health issues, and sexual and physical violence. The LGBT community is an at risk population due to barriers in health care linked to discrimination, prejudice, social stigma, and lack of access to health insurance especially for same-sex couples. (Healthypeople.gov 2013). It is important to identify community resources in the city of Houston for LGBT people in order to improve the health, safety, and well-being of these individuals. In an effort to promote the health of LGBT people, a health and wellness plan should be targeted within the LGBT community in the city of Houston. Risk Factors Causing Health Disparities in the LGBT Community HIV/AIDS is a major risk factor affecting a large portion of the LGBT community, especially gay men. CDC.gov (2013) found that gay and bisexual men of all races continue to be at high risk for developing HIV. According to Krehely (2009) the drug and substance abuse risk factor, as well as mental health issues in the LGBT community often occur and are related to high rates of stress due to the lack of family acceptance of the LGBT lifestyle, systematic discrimination, and the lack of cultural competency in the health care environment. Sexu... ... middle of paper ... ...ed from http://kff.org/disparities-policy/issue-brief/health-and-access-to-care-and-coverage-for-lesbian-gay-bisexual-and transgender-individuals-in-the-u-s/ U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2012). 2012 National health care disparities report (13-0003). Retrieved from Agency for Health Care Research and Quality website: http://ahrq.gov-research-findings-nhqrdr-nhdr12-2012nhdr.pdf U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2013). HIV and aids among gay and bisexual men. Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website: http://cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/CDC-MSM-508.pdf U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2013). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health. Retrieved from http://healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=25 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2013). What is cultural co
United States Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). United States Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved September 19, 2011, from http://www.hhs.gov
The differences in medical needs for individuals in and outside of the LGBTQ community is systematic and have varying perpendicular methods dependent on the group. As Macapagal states, LGB persons experience negative encounters in healthcare settings such as discrimination or invalidation of their identity. When treatment is rendered to members of the LGBTQ community, a case by case coating must be utilized. One particular individual
The article “Of disparities and diversity: Where are we?” helped me better understand the health experiences of women and how disparities remain a persistent problem today. There were certain disparities of some people not having insurance, having limited access to care, not get proper care and of course having negative health outcomes. Race and ethnicity are the common factors of disparities in healthcare but social and environmental factors play a major part in it too. It is said that this world is becoming more diverse. The population is becoming more heterogeneous. It is estimated that Hispanics and blacks will populate over half of the U.S. That said, since the people of color make up the majority of those that are uninsured and have low income it will be even more important to address healthcare disparities. So now there is more efforts to focus on the disparities to prevent them from continuing.
LGBT individual encompass all races and ethnicities, religion, and social classes. The face health disparities linked to societal stigma, discrimination and denial of their civil and human rights. Personal, family, and social acceptance of sexual orientation affect the mental health and personal safety of LGBT individuals.
United States Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy People 2020. (2012). About healthy people. Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/about/
It is very reasonable to conclude that research on depression of those who identify as gay, lesbian or transsexual is not accurate; there is an underreporting of people who identify as these sexual orientations because of the fear of being different. It is understood that those apart of the LGBTQ community actively hide their identity in hopes to avoid being rejected or abused (Bird, 2013). Once the reporting issue of having a smaller percentage of the actual representation of the LGBTQ population is put aside, there is evidence that highly suggests that lesbians and gay men are at higher risk for psychiatric disorders than heterosexuals (Cochran, 2001). Even after underreporting, there is still enough information to conclude that sexual discrimination can have harmful effects on the quality of life. Common factors that have been observed in lesbians and gays that can potentially increase depression during Cochran's study are anxiety and mood disorders and decreased self esteem. Cochran and her partner also noted that dissatisfaction with how one is treated beca...
Practice with Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual and transgender. Retrieved on September 29, 2010 from http//vnweb.hwilsonweb.com
There are many issues that interfere with the health and happiness of those within the Gay and Lesbian community. The National Association Position Statement on Gays and Lesbians is as attempt to abolish such issues within the social work practice. One place that individuals of any sexual orientation practice should feel safe is with those who have chosen the field of social work as a means to helping the oppressed. Social workers must be aware of their own personal beliefs and values when it comes to the fear of and the misrepresentation of working with this divers group. The consequences of not dealing with such issues and may have a latent manifest in dealing with the Gay and Lesbian population, and if not addressed prior to working in this field, maybe devastating to a client.
According to the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the percentage of racial and ethnic minority groups in the state of Maryland continues to increase. To be exact, high percentages of racial and ethnic minority groups are found in several counties including Montgomery County with a 50.7%, Prince George’s County with an 85.1%, and Howard County with an estimated 40.8%. As these numbers begin to increment, the need for affordable and accessible medical services also increases. However, the reality is, minority groups don’t have adequate access to medical services, and if they do, such services are not affordable. Consequently, we witness health disparities among neighboring communities, minorities suffering from preventable chronic diseases and
“Eliminating Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Health Care: What are the Options?” The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, 20 Oct. 2008 https://www.kff.org/disparities-policy/issue-brief/eliminating-racialethnic-disparities-in-health-care-what/
Recently, a professor lent me her copy of the book, Maternal and Child Health, by Jonathan B. Kotch. As I perused the public health text, I found only one paragraph about LGTBQ+ individuals, and this paragraph cited just one piece of research, which was more than fifteen years old. This, to me, highlights an area of need for attention, research, support, and public awareness. I do not immediately foresee myself crafting research proposals to offset this fifteen-year deficit. However, I do foresee myself providing comprehensive primary sexual and reproductive health care to LGBTQ+ individuals and communities, whether accompanying an adolescent in learning about intimate relationships; a trans* person in their sexual identity development; or a couple in their surrogate pregnancy. As a gay young adult, I hope to provide this care in a focused, sensitive, and relatable way, at once carving out a niche in the practice of public health nursing, while simultaneously meeting the underserved needs of LGBTQ+
Early April 2016, North Carolina passed a law restricting governments from passing laws that are discriminatory. This law is intended to protect Transgender people from discrimination. Discrimination against Transgenders is against the law, and it has stirred up arguments throughout the nation. With more and more people standing up against discrimination regarding Transgenders, the debate about Transgenders is now nationwide. Unfortunately, Transgenders still continue to face public discrimination due to misinformation and misleading statements from the media.
Twenty percent of thirty percent of gay and transgender people abuse substances. According to LGBT wellness roundup, “the stress that comes from daily battles with discrimination and stigma is a principle driver of these higher rates of substance us, as gay and trans people turn to tobacco, alcohol, and other substances as a way to cope with these challenges. And a lack of culturally competent health care service also fuels high substance-use rates among gay and transgender people.” Substance abuse is a serious matter and affects everyone but most importantly the LGBT-Q individuals. This all goes back to our health care system. We need to better the health care system in order to avoid these terrifying numbers that show more than half transgender and gay
While HIV affects Americans from all walks of life, the epidemic continues to disproportionately impact gay and bisexual men, transgender women. According to the CDC, there are over one million Americans currently living with HIV and approximately 50,000 new infections every year. Almost two-thirds of those new infections are among gay and bisexual men. In most states in our country (as well as at the federal level), there are little or no protections against discrimination in employment, housing, and other areas based on sexual orientation and gender identity. For minorities within the LGBT community, racial and other forms of bias compound an already challenging situation. The potential consequences job loss, lack of access to healthcare,
When one hears the words “LGBT” and “Homosexuality” it often conjures up a mental picture of people fighting for their rights, which were unjustly taken away or even the social emergence of gay culture in the world in the1980s and the discovery of AIDS. However, many people do not know that the history of LGBT people stretches as far back in humanity’s history, and continues in this day and age. Nevertheless, the LGBT community today faces much discrimination and adversity. Many think the problem lies within society itself, and often enough that may be the case. Society holds preconceptions and prejudice of the LGBT community, though not always due to actual hatred of the LGBT community, but rather through lack of knowledge and poor media portrayal.