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Running head: VULNERABLE POPULATION RISK ASSESSMENT 1

Vulnerable Population Risk Assessment

Angela Purgiel

Ferris State University


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Vulnerable Population Risk Assessment

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
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“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

color ("LGTB," 2014).

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

LGBT population. According to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey “ respondents

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

care organization in order to help meet their needs.

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

# of Members in the LGBT community

Incidence 22,000 or 0.22 per 100,000

Prevalence 47% - 56% per 2430 LGBT people

Mobidity 22% per 32852 LGTB people

Mortality Undetermined (not a required reporting)

(Pompili, Forte, & Lester, 2014, p. 3)


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References

Ard, K. L., & Makadon, H. J. (n.d.). IMPROVING THE HEALTH CARE OF LESBIAN, GAY,

BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER (LGBT) PEOPLE: Understanding and Eliminating

Health Disparities. Retrieved from http://www.lgbthealtheducation.org/wp-

content/uploads/12-054_LGBTHealtharticle_v3_07-09-12.pdf

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health. (2014). Retrieved from

http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=25

National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. (2009).

National Transgender Discrimination Survey. Retrieved from

http://www.thetaskforce.org/downloads/reports/fact_sheets/transsurvey_prelim_findings.

pdf

Pompili, M., Forte, A., & Lester, D. (2014, May 20). Bisexuality and Suicide: A Systematic

Review of the Current Literature. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 1-11.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jsm.12581

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