scholarly journals The Role of Immigration in the Health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Older Adults in the United States

2019 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-21
Author(s):  
Jane J. Lee ◽  
Hyun-Jun Kim ◽  
Karen Fredriksen Goldsen

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) aging research is growing around the globe. Yet, few studies have examined the interconnectedness of different populations and cultures. This study examines whether LGBT foreign-born older adults experience greater health disparities than their U.S.-born counterparts. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the National Health, Aging, and Sexuality/Gender Study: Aging with Pride from 2014, which assessed measures of health and well-being among LGBT adults aged 50 years and older ( n = 2,441). We compared sociodemographic characteristics, health-care access, health behaviors, and health outcomes between foreign-born and U.S.-born participants. Foreign-born LGBT older adults reported greater socioeconomic disadvantage and higher levels of experiencing barriers to health-care access than U.S.-born LGBT older adults. Groups did not significantly differ in health behaviors and health outcomes when controlling for sociodemographic factors. Greater understanding of the mechanisms that shape the relationship between migration and health among the LGBT population is warranted.

2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 489-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerald F. Kominski ◽  
Narissa J. Nonzee ◽  
Andrea Sorensen

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) expands access to health insurance in the United States, and, to date, an estimated 20 million previously uninsured individuals have gained coverage. Understanding the law's impact on coverage, access, utilization, and health outcomes, especially among low-income populations, is critical to informing ongoing debates about its effectiveness and implementation. Early findings indicate that there have been significant reductions in the rate of uninsurance among the poor and among those who live in Medicaid expansion states. In addition, the law has been associated with increased health care access, affordability, and use of preventive and outpatient services among low-income populations, though impacts on inpatient utilization and health outcomes have been less conclusive. Although these early findings are generally consistent with past coverage expansions, continued monitoring of these domains is essential to understand the long-term impact of the law for underserved populations.


2021 ◽  
pp. e1-e10
Author(s):  
Kristen Schorpp Rapp ◽  
Vanessa V. Volpe ◽  
Hannah Neukrug

Objectives. To quantify racial/ethnic differences in the relationship between state-level sexism and barriers to health care access among non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic women in the United States. Methods. We merged a multidimensional state-level sexism index compiled from administrative data with the national Consumer Survey of Health Care Access (2014–2019; n = 10 898) to test associations between exposure to state-level sexism and barriers to access, availability, and affordability of health care. Results. Greater exposure to state-level sexism was associated with more barriers to health care access among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic women, but not non-Hispanic White women. Affordability barriers (cost of medical bills, health insurance, prescriptions, and tests) appeared to drive these associations. More frequent need for care exacerbated the relationship between state-level sexism and barriers to care for Hispanic women. Conclusions. The relationship between state-level sexism and women’s barriers to health care access differs by race/ethnicity and frequency of needing care. Public Health Implications. State-level policies may be used strategically to promote health care equity at the intersection of gender and race/ethnicity. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print September 2, 2021: e1–e10. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306455 )


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cherrie B Boyer ◽  
Charlotte A Gaydos ◽  
Amy B Geller ◽  
Eric C Garges ◽  
Sten H Vermund

ABSTRACT To address the ongoing epidemic of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the United States, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (National Academies) conducted a consensus study on STI control and prevention in the United States to provide recommendations to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Association of County and City Health Officials. The culminating report identified military personnel as one of the priority groups that require special consideration given the high prevalence of STIs and their associated behaviors (e.g., concurrent sexual partners and infrequent condom use) that occur during active duty service. Universal health care access, the relative ease and frequency of STI screening, and the educational opportunities within the military are all assets in STI control and prevention. The report offers a comprehensive framework on multiple and interrelated influences on STI risk, prevention, health care access, delivery, and treatment. It also provides an overview of the multilevel risk and protective factors associated with STIs that could be applied using a sexual health paradigm. The military context must integrate the multilevel domains of influences to guide the effort to fill current gaps and research needs. The Department of Defense, with its large clinical and preventive medicine workforce and its well-established universal health care system, is well positioned to enact changes to shift its current approach to STI prevention, treatment, and control. STI control based on highlighting behavioral, social, cultural, and environmental influences on service members’ sexual health and wellness may well drive better STI care and prevention outcomes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-63
Author(s):  
Md. Shahidul Islam

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the association between social capital (SC) and health care access problem among the older people in Bangladesh. Design/methodology/approach This study applied a random sampling method to select 310 older adults (all aged 60 years) in Bangladesh. Exploratory factor analysis was employed to extract SC dimensions. Logistic regression was applied to measure the association of SC dimensions and access. Findings The logistic regression result shows that with a one-unit increase in social network, norms of reciprocity, and civic participation, health care access problem will be decreased by OR= 0.732 (95% CI =0.529–1.014); OR=0.641 (95% CI = 0.447–0.919); and OR=0.748 (95% CI = 0.556–1.006) units. Respondents who have economic hardship were 3.211 (OR=3.211, CI = 0.84–5.59) times more likely to say that they had health care access problem compared with who had no economic hardship. Research limitations/implications The study showed that the lower level of SC and presence of economic hardship increased the probability to health care access problem among the older people. Improving SC may be helpful in reducing health care access problem. However, economic hardship reductions are also important to reduce the health care access problem. Improving SC and reducing economic hardship thus should be implemented at the same time. Practical implications The study showed that low SC and economic hardship increased the probability to health care access problem. Improving SC may be helpful in reducing health inequity. However, economic hardship reductions also important to health care access. Therefore, improving SC and reducing economic hardship should be implemented at the same time. Originality/value This study has a great policy importance in regard to reducing health care access problem among the older adult in Bangladesh as SC has a potential to bring about a concomitant improvement in the condition of the health care access.


2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 545-569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen I. Fredriksen-Goldsen ◽  
Sarah Jen ◽  
Amanda E. B. Bryan ◽  
Jayn Goldsen

Cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, and other dementias are important health concerns for older adults. As a marginalized and growing segment of the older adult population, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults face distinct risk factors related to cognitive impairment and dementias, including social isolation, discrimination, barriers to health care access, limited availability of and support for caregivers, and higher rates of certain chronic illnesses. We examine cognitive impairment and dementias among LGBT older adults, describe their unique risk factors, and outline key competencies for health care and human service providers to ensure culturally relevant care for LGBT older adults experiencing cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease, or other dementias, as well as their caregivers, families, and communities. Implications include developing an awareness of the context of LGBT older adults’ lives and relationships, the importance of early detection and support, and the development of policies and practices that promote community-level advocacy and education.


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