Survey on Gay Sex for Parity in US Health Programs

The Department of Health and Human Services in the US has planned to include health data on sexual orientation and gender identity-related issues in the National Health Interview Survey. The data will eventually help promote efforts in ending disparities in health care between the majority of the population and the minority LGTB (lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual) population, leading to better health insurance programs for these minority communities. The agency proposes to monitor health data of LGTB by race, ethnicity, sex, primary language, and disability status populations, along with new draft standards.

These efforts will help researchers, policy makers, health care and insurance providers, and advocates better address health disparities, the agency said. This is a critical step toward ensuring the collection of useful national data on minority groups, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius added. Scholars and gay activists have welcomed the news, saying there is immediate and critical need for more data in the LGBT community.

The proposed standards for data on race, ethnicity, sex, primary language and disability status will aid federal agencies better refine their population health surveys so that researchers can better understand health disparities.

“The new data standards, once finalized, will help us target our research and tailor stronger solutions for under-served and minority communities,” added HHS Director of the Office of Minority Health, Dr. Garth Graham.

Source-Medindia