Understanding Health-Care Needs of Sexual and Gender Minority Veterans: How Targeted Research and Policy Can Improve Health
Authors
Mattocks, Kristin M.Kauth, Michael R.
Sandfort, Theo
Matza, Alexis R.
Sullivan, J. Cherry
Shipherd, Jillian C.
UMass Chan Affiliations
Department of Quantitative Health SciencesDocument Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2014-03-01Keywords
biology and sexual/gender minority statusgender identity
gender variance
LGBT
mental health needs veteran
Gender and Sexuality
Health Services Administration
Military and Veterans Studies
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Given the size of the patient population of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), it is likely the largest single provider of health care for sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals in the United States, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons. However, current VHA demographic data-collection strategies limit the understanding of how many SGM veterans there are, thereby making a population-based understanding of the health needs of SGM veterans receiving care in VHA difficult. In this article, we summarize the emergent research findings about SGM veterans and the first initiatives that have been implemented by VHA to promote quality care. Though the research on SGM veterans is in its infancy, it suggests that SGM veterans share some of the health risks noted in veterans generally and also risks associated with SGM status. Some promising resiliency factors have also been identified. These findings have implications for both VHA and non-VHA systems in the treatment of SGM veterans. However, more research on the unique needs of SGM veterans is needed to fully understand their health risks and resiliencies in addition to health-care utilization patterns.Source
Kristin M. Mattocks, Michael R. Kauth, Theo Sandfort, Alexis R. Matza, J. Cherry Sullivan, and Jillian C. Shipherd. LGBT Health. March 2014, 1(1): 50-57. doi:10.1089/lgbt.2013.0003.
DOI
10.1089/lgbt.2013.0003Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/51040PubMed ID
26789509ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1089/lgbt.2013.0003
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