21: Examining the Sexual Orientation and Gender Intersection-Related Healthcare Disparities

Music City Center 

In the United States, although the gaps in health insurance coverage by sexual orientation have been closing since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and legalization of same-sex marriage, the LGBTQ+ group continues to report healthcare disparities such as more delayed or unmet care due to cost. There appear to be structural forces at play. This study answers the need to build upon the literature in understanding social contexts attributed to healthcare disparities of LGBTQ+ people using multilevel modeling. In addition, sexual orientation may intersect with gender to impact healthcare disparities. Further, the aforementioned situations would be more problematic for people who have chronic diseases because healthcare is essential to them. Therefore, it is critical to understand healthcare disparities related to sexual orientation and gender for people who have chronic diseases. From the methodological perspective, quantitative intersectional approaches have drawn increasing attention. In this study, I utilized quantitative intersectional methods for logistic regression such as prevalence risk ratios and measures of additive-scale interaction for easier and clearer interpretations of intersectional results and more actionable policy implications for inter-categorical groups using the National Health Interview Survey data. This research aims to answer the following research questions: (1) How is the intersection of sexual orientation and gender related to healthcare disparities? (2) Do social contexts have effects on healthcare disparities? (3) How much of the total variability in an outcome of healthcare disparities is attributable to the social contexts?

quantitative intersectional methods

healthcare disparities 

Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion Outreach Group