Health Inequities among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults in North Carolina, 2011–2014
Author
Barnhill, Melissa M.; Lee, Joseph G. L.; Rafferty, Ann P.
Abstract
Inequalities in health have been identified for lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) populations
nationally. Policies in the U.S. South offer fewer protections for LGB people than in other regions, yet,
limited data exist for this region. North Carolina (NC) BRFSS data from 2011 to 2014 were combined
(LGB n = 604; heterosexual n = 33,170) and analyzed using SAS survey procedures to estimate health
characteristics by sexual orientation within gender. Many examined indicators were not different
by sexual orientation, however, other results were significant and consistent with findings from
state population surveys in other regions of the country. Both genders showed inequities in mental
health, having over twice the odds of five or more poor mental health days in the past month and
of having ever been diagnosed with a depressive disorder. Sexual minority women had higher
odds compared with heterosexual women for ever having smoked cigarettes, current smoking,
exposure to secondhand smoke both in the workplace and at home, and both alcohol risk factors,
binge and heavy drinking. Being part of the LGB population in NC is associated with worse health.
The implementation of anti-LGB policies in the NC warrants ongoing monitoring of LGB health
inequities in NC and in other southeastern states for potential effects on the health and well-being of
sexual minorities.
Date
2017
Citation:
APA:
Barnhill, Melissa M., & Lee, Joseph G. L., & Rafferty, Ann P.. (January 2017).
Health Inequities among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults in North Carolina, 2011–2014.
,
(),
-
. Retrieved from
http://hdl.handle.net/10342/9483
MLA:
Barnhill, Melissa M., and Lee, Joseph G. L., and Rafferty, Ann P..
"Health Inequities among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults in North Carolina, 2011–2014". .
. (),
January 2017.
September 26, 2023.
http://hdl.handle.net/10342/9483.
Chicago:
Barnhill, Melissa M. and Lee, Joseph G. L. and Rafferty, Ann P.,
"Health Inequities among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults in North Carolina, 2011–2014," , no.
(January 2017),
http://hdl.handle.net/10342/9483 (accessed
September 26, 2023).
AMA:
Barnhill, Melissa M., Lee, Joseph G. L., Rafferty, Ann P..
Health Inequities among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults in North Carolina, 2011–2014. .
January 2017;
():
.
http://hdl.handle.net/10342/9483. Accessed
September 26, 2023.
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