Queer Representation and Consideration in Public Health Research

Shelby Webb

Public Health and Social Justice

Public health and social justice

• Alabama REACH 2010 Breast and Cervical Cancer coalition helped remove barriers that prevented black women over 40 from receiving cancer screenings
• Forever Free is a drug treatment program for women who abuse drugs and are incarcerated in a female-only state prison in California. The program offers resources, counseling, support, and community residential treatment, and has been effective in reducing drug relapse and returning to custody
• Colorado’s Oral Health Unit works to provide sealants that prevent tooth decay to all CO children with a special focus on those living in poverty.

Source: http://www.healthyamericans.org/assets/files/Examplesbystate1009.pdf

What’s the problem?

The problem

Why is it important?

Queer Health Disparities

• Queer youth are 2 to 3 times more likely to attempt suicide
• Queer youth are more likely to be homeless
• Queer women are less likely to get preventive services for cancer
• Queer men are at higher risk of HIV and other STDs, especially among communities of color
• Trans people have higher prevalence of HIV/STD’s, victimization, mental health issues, and suicide
• Trans people are less likely to have health insurance
• Elderly queer people face additional barriers due to isolation and lack of social services/medical providers that are culturally competent

Source: https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/lesbian-gay-bisexual-and-transgender-health

What can public health professionals do?

Better study designs

• If a study is looking at cervical cancer, the target population should be people with a cervix, not women.
• Allow for a nonbinary and “other” gender response
• Allow for an asexual and “other” sexual orientation response
• What are you actually interested in?
• Their self identification
• Their sexual behavior
• Their sexual attraction

Oversampling

.3%

Not large enough for statistical analysis

Oversampling

.3%

Statistically sound, adjusted for total population

Studies focused on queer issues

What can everyone else do?

Get involved!

• Join an Institutional Review Board
• Give feedback and critique on published papers
• Advocate for the queer community - especially trans/nonbinary folks

Questions?