To increase the reliable information available regarding lesbian health, we used population-based data to assess lesbians’ health behaviors, health status and their access to and use of health care. A cross-sectional probability-based survey; the 1997 Los Angeles County Health Survey. Participants reported their sexual orientation and the gender of their sexual partners during the preceding year (male, female or both). These analyses include 4,661 women: 4,592 heterosexual women and 69 lesbians. We used multivariate models to assess the effect of sexual orientation on aspects of health and health behaviors. Lesbians were more likely than heterosexual women to report any alcohol consumption (RR-1.20, CI-1.05, 1.33), to drink heavily (RR-6.5, CI-2.26, 13.85) and to use tobacco products (RR-1.69, CI-1.25, 2.12). During the prior year, lesbians were more likely to lack health insurance (RR-1.34, CI-1.08, 1.56) and to have experienced difficulty seeing a physician (RR-1.59, CI-1.21, 1.93). During the preceding two years lesbians were less likely to have had a Pap smear (RR-0.61, CI-0.43, 0.83) and a breast exam (RR-0.65, CI 0.46, 0.88). In this first population-based study of lesbian health, we found that lesbians were more likely than heterosexual women to have poor health behaviors, and less likely to receive preventive health care services thus supporting our hypothesis that sexual orientation/behavior is an independent predictor for health behaviors and receipt of care. Our findings support the need for the systematic study of lesbian health issues to understand health behaviors and conditions for which lesbians may be at increased risk.
Learning Objectives: To understand that lesbians continue to face significant barriers to needed health care, and that they are at risk for medical conditions based on mutable health behaviors
Keywords: Access and Services, Substance Abuse
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.