IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/plo/pone00/0213431.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Vaccination differences among U.S. adults by their self-identified sexual orientation, National Health Interview Survey, 2013–2015

Author

Listed:
  • Anup Srivastav
  • Alissa O’Halloran
  • Peng-Jun Lu
  • Walter W Williams
  • Sonja S Hutchins

Abstract

Introduction: Very few studies have explored the associations between self-identified sexual orientation and comprehensive vaccination coverage. Most of the previous studies that reported health disparities among lesbian, gay and bisexual populations were not based on a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults, limiting the generalizability of the findings. Starting in 2013, the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) included questions to ascertain the adult’s self-identified sexual orientation that allowed national level vaccination estimation by sexual orientation. This study examined associations of self-reported vaccination coverage for selected vaccines among U.S. adults by their sexual orientation. Methods: We analyzed combined data from 2013–2015 NHIS, a nationally representative probability-based health survey of the noninstitutionalized U.S. population ≥18 years. For vaccines other than influenza, weighted proportions were calculated. Influenza coverage was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier procedure. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted prevalence differences for each vaccine overall and stratified by sexual orientation and to identify factors independently associated with vaccination. Results: Significant differences were observed by sexual orientation for self-reported receipt of human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis A (HepA), hepatitis B (HepB), and influenza vaccination. Bisexual females (51.6%) had higher HPV coverage than heterosexual females (40.2%). Gay males (40.3% and 53.6%, respectively) had higher HepA and HepB coverage than heterosexual males (25.4% and 32.6%, respectively). Bisexual females (33.9% and 58.5%, respectively) had higher HepA and HepB coverage than heterosexual females (23.5% and 38.4%, respectively) and higher HepB coverage than lesbian females (45.4%). Bisexual adults (34.1%) had lower influenza coverage than gay/lesbian (48.5%) and heterosexual adults (43.8%). Except for the association of having self-identified as gay/lesbian orientation with greater likelihood of HepA, HepB, and influenza vaccination, sexual orientation was not associated with higher or lower likelihood of vaccination. Health status or other behavioral characteristics studied had no consistent relationship with vaccination among all populations. Conclusion: Differences were identified in vaccination coverage among the U.S. adult population by self-reported sexual orientation. This study is the first to assess associations of sexual orientation with a comprehensive list of vaccinations. Findings from this study can serve as a baseline for monitoring changes over time. All populations could benefit from improved vaccination.

Suggested Citation

  • Anup Srivastav & Alissa O’Halloran & Peng-Jun Lu & Walter W Williams & Sonja S Hutchins, 2019. "Vaccination differences among U.S. adults by their self-identified sexual orientation, National Health Interview Survey, 2013–2015," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(3), pages 1-21, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0213431
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213431
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0213431
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0213431&type=printable
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1371/journal.pone.0213431?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dilley, J.A. & Simmons, K.W. & Boysun, M.J. & Pizacani, B.A. & Stark, M.J., 2010. "Demonstrating the importance and feasibility of including sexual orientation in public health surveys: Health disparities in the Pacific Northwest," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(3), pages 460-467.
    2. Weinbaum, C.M. & Lyerla, R. & MacKellar, D.A. & Valleroy, L.A. & Secura, G.M. & Behel, S.K. & Bingham, T. & Celentano, D.D. & Koblin, B.A. & LaLota, M. & Shehan, D.A. & Thiede, H. & Torian, L.V., 2008. "The young men's survey phase II: Hepatitis B immunization and infection among young men who have sex with men," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 98(5), pages 839-845.
    3. Cochran, S.D. & Bandiera, F.C. & Mays, V.M., 2013. "Sexual orientation-related differences in tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure among US adults aged 20 to 59 years: 2003-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(10), pages 1837-1844.
    4. J Whitehead & John Shaver & Rob Stephenson, 2016. "Outness, Stigma, and Primary Health Care Utilization among Rural LGBT Populations," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, January.
    5. Conron, K.J. & Mimiaga, M.J. & Landers, S.J., 2010. "A population-based study of sexual orientation identity and gender differences in adult health," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(10), pages 1953-1960.
    6. Mays, V.M. & Yancey, A.K. & Cochran, S.D. & Weber, M. & Fielding, J.E., 2002. "Heterogeneity of health disparities among African American, Hispanic, and Asian American women: Unrecognized influences of sexual orientation," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 92(4), pages 632-639.
    7. Matthews, D.D. & Lee, J.G.L., 2014. "A profile of north Carolina lesbian, gay, and bisexual health disparities, 2011," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(6), pages 98-105.
    8. Fredriksen-Goldsen, K.I. & Kim, H.-J. & Barkan, S.E. & Muraco, A. & Hoy-Ellis, C.P., 2013. "Health disparities among lesbian, gay, and bisexual older adults: Results from a population-based study," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(10), pages 1802-1809.
    9. Gonzales, G. & Blewett, L.A., 2014. "National and state-specific health insurance disparities for adults in same-sex relationships," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(2), pages 95-104.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Kiana Wilkins, 2022. "Intersectional Immunity? Examining How Race/Ethnicity and Sexual Orientation Combine to Shape Influenza Vaccination Among US Adults," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(6), pages 2585-2612, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Billy A Caceres & Abraham Brody & Deborah Chyun, 2016. "Recommendations for cardiovascular disease research with lesbian, gay and bisexual adults," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(23-24), pages 3728-3742, December.
    2. Melissa M. Barnhill & Joseph G. L. Lee & Ann P. Rafferty, 2017. "Health Inequities among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults in North Carolina, 2011–2014," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-10, July.
    3. Paine, Emily Allen, 2018. "Embodied disruption: “Sorting out” gender and nonconformity in the doctor's office," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 352-358.
    4. Alexa Solazzo & Bridget Gorman & Justin Denney, 2020. "Does Sexual Orientation Complicate the Relationship Between Marital Status and Gender With Self-rated Health and Cardiovascular Disease?," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 57(2), pages 599-626, April.
    5. Gilbert Gonzales & Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, 2018. "The Association between State Policy Environments and Self-Rated Health Disparities for Sexual Minorities in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-11, June.
    6. Carpenter, Christopher S. & Gonzales, Gilbert & McKay, Tara & Sansone, Dario, 2020. "Effects of the Affordable Care Act Dependent Coverage Mandate on Health Insurance Coverage for Individuals in Same-Sex Couples," IZA Discussion Papers 13119, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Yazbeck M & Xu H & Azocar F & Ettner SL, 2020. "Spousal Peer Effects in Specialty Behavioral Health Services Use: Do Spillovers Vary by Gender, Subscriber Status and Sexual Orientation?," Discussion Papers Series 630, School of Economics, University of Queensland, Australia.
    8. Bridget Gorman & Justin Denney & Hilary Dowdy & Rose Medeiros, 2015. "A New Piece of the Puzzle: Sexual Orientation, Gender, and Physical Health Status," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 52(4), pages 1357-1382, August.
    9. Joseph G. L. Lee & Adam O. Goldstein & Leah M. Ranney & Jeff Crist & Anna McCullough, 2011. "High Tobacco Use among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Populations in West Virginian Bars and Community Festivals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-12, July.
    10. Saxby, Karinna & de New, Sonja C. & Petrie, Dennis, 2020. "Structural stigma and sexual orientation disparities in healthcare use: Evidence from Australian Census-linked-administrative data," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    11. Eva Elton & Gilbert Gonzales, 2022. "Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Care by Sexual Orientation and Marital/Cohabitation Status: New Evidence from the 2015–2018 National Health Interview Survey," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(2), pages 479-493, April.
    12. Alexa L. Solazzo & Bridget K. Gorman & Justin T. Denney, 2017. "Cancer Screening Utilization Among U.S. Women: How Mammogram and Pap Test Use Varies Among Heterosexual, Lesbian, and Bisexual Women," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 36(3), pages 357-377, June.
    13. Amie O'Shea & J. R. Latham & Ruth McNair & Nathan Despott & Mellem Rose & Ruby Mountford & Patsie Frawley, 2020. "Experiences of LGBTIQA+ People with Disability in Healthcare and Community Services: Towards Embracing Multiple Identities," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-14, November.
    14. Mwita Wambura & Daniel Josiah Nyato & Neema Makyao & Mary Drake & Evodius Kuringe & Caterina Casalini & Jacqueline Materu & Soori Nnko & Gasper Mbita & Amani Shao & Albert Komba & John Changalucha & T, 2020. "Programmatic mapping and size estimation of key populations to inform HIV programming in Tanzania," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, January.
    15. Omer Sagie, 2016. "Well-Being in Older Gays and Lesbians: A Comparison of Predictors," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 126(1), pages 395-409, March.
    16. Stefanie Mollborn & Aubrey Limburg & Bethany G. Everett, 2022. "Mothers’ Sexual Identity and Children’s Health," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 41(3), pages 1217-1239, June.
    17. Cristiano Scandurra & Andrea Pennasilico & Concetta Esposito & Fabrizio Mezza & Roberto Vitelli & Vincenzo Bochicchio & Nelson Mauro Maldonato & Anna Lisa Amodeo, 2020. "Minority Stress and Mental Health in Italian Bisexual People," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-17, April.
    18. Powdthavee, Nattavudh & Wooden, Mark, 2014. "What can life satisfaction data tell us about discrimination against sexual minorities? A structural equation model for Australia and the United Kingdom," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 60278, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    19. Yoo Mi Jeong & Cindy B Veldhuis & Frances Aranda & Tonda L Hughes, 2016. "Racial/ethnic differences in unmet needs for mental health and substance use treatment in a community‐based sample of sexual minority women," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 25(23-24), pages 3557-3569, December.
    20. Marco Fonzo & Silvia Cocchio & Matteo Centomo & Tatjana Baldovin & Alessandra Buja & Silvia Majori & Vincenzo Baldo & Chiara Bertoncello, 2021. "Sexual and Gender Minorities and Risk Behaviours among University Students in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-9, November.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0213431. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: plosone (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.