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Angela Purgiel
Lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender, (LGBT) individuals may face a unique set of health
concerns and disparities. As nursing professionals it is important to identify the unique needs of
the LGTB population in order to provide them with the unique health care they deserve. There
has been a “long history of anti-LGBT bias in healthcare which continues to shape health-
seeking behavior and access to care for LGBT individuals, despite increasing social acceptance”
(Ard & Makadon, n.d., p. 3) According to Healthy People 2020 “research suggests that LGBT
individuals face health disparities linked to societal stigma, discrimination, and denial of their
civil and human rights”("LGTB," 2014, p. 1). The main objective of Healthy People 2020 for
this population is to “increase the number of population-based data systems used to monitor
Healthy People 2020 objectives that include in their core a standardized set of questions that
identify lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations” ("LGBT," 2014, p. 1). By
developing this monitoring system health care professionals can accommodate the needs of this
population and gain a better understanding of what they need to improve the overall health of
this population.
Risk Assessment
The LGBT community faces a unique set of risks related to “personal, family, and social
acceptance of sexual orientation and gender identity” ("LGBT," 2014, p. 1). This affects the
mental health and personal safety of LGBT individuals. There are several key influences that
affect the overall health of LGBT individuals and because they may face severe discrimination
and lack of social acceptance one important risks is that of mental health. Due to discrimination
and lack of social acceptance “LGBT youth are 2 to 3 times more likely to attempt suicide”
("LGTB," 2014, p. 1). Another factor affecting the mental health of this population is that
VULNERABLE POPULATION RISK ASSESSMENT 3
“LGBT youth are more likely to be homeless” ("LGTB," 2014, p. 1). Not only does this restrict
their access to health care but also puts them at risk from harm related to exposure to the
elements. Other factors affecting mental health include higher rates of tobacco, alcohol, and
other drug use, along with higher risk of HIV and other STDs, especially among communities of
Data Collection
One of the many challenges this population faces is the data collection itself. Most
surveys and reporting systems do not require identifying sexual orientation. One of the main
issues identified by Healthy people 2020 is “nationally representative data on LGBT Americans”
("LGTB," 2014, p. 1). There are many other challenges faced when discussing the demographics
of this population with the main obstacle being the reluctance to report sexual orientation. Even
with this obstacle “researchers have estimated that approximately 3.5% of United States adults
identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual and that 0.3% of adults are transgender” (Ard & Makadon,
n.d., p. 2). Other surveys suggest approximately 9 million individuals in the United States today
and about 600,000 households throughout the country headed by same-sex couples (Ard &
Makadon, n.d.).
This population’s demographics play an important part in understanding the health of the
experience unemployment at twice the rate of the population as a whole”(National Center for
Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 2009, p. 1). There is also an
identified higher risk for poverty among the LGTB population, “fifteen percent (15%) of
transgender people lived on $10,000 per year or less–double the rate of the general population”
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(National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 2009,
p. 1).
Statement of Need
Performing a Gap analysis on this population using the data provided will better guide the
future state or goals for a healthier state of this population. The current state is that members of
LGBT population are much more likely to commit suicide then compared with the general
population. As stated previously 2 to 3 times more likely. An adequate goal for this population
would be to reduce the suicide rate to less than or equal to that of the general population.
The greatest need for this population is more access to suicide prevention programs and
at younger ages. Introducing LGBT concepts at the same age as introducing productive health
will help remove uncertainty among adolescents. Also offering training to staff members in
caring for members of LGBT population to aid in their unique needs as a patient. In recent
history, in the 1990s, “nearly one-fifth of physicians in a California survey endorsed homophobic
viewpoints, and 18% reported feeling uncomfortable treating gay or lesbian patients” (Ard &
Makadon, n.d., p. 3). This statistic has decrease to 6% over the last several years but work still
needs to be done. The LGBT community should aid in the development of resources for health
Healthcare professionals will play an important role in the overall health of this
population. Not only do we need to be more inclusive of their needs but we also have to identify
their risks for health care disorders. The overall care of the population should start at a very
young age as LGBT youth have been identified as an at risk group of people for suicide along
with many other LGBT associated behaviors. It is important to care for these patients in the same
way that we care for the many other groups of patients we care for.
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Table 1
References
Ard, K. L., & Makadon, H. J. (n.d.). IMPROVING THE HEALTH CARE OF LESBIAN, GAY,
content/uploads/12-054_LGBTHealtharticle_v3_07-09-12.pdf
http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=25
National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. (2009).
http://www.thetaskforce.org/downloads/reports/fact_sheets/transsurvey_prelim_findings.
Pompili, M., Forte, A., & Lester, D. (2014, May 20). Bisexuality and Suicide: A Systematic
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jsm.12581