Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual And Transgender Health Issues Getting Short Shrift At U.S. Schools Of Public Health

April 27, 2007 – 4:13 pm | posted in Sexual Health / STDs

Aside from HIV/AIDS, health issues affecting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender population are not likely to show up in research and lesson plans offered at schools of public health across the nation.

Researchers mailed questionnaires to 184 department and division heads at 35 of the country’s schools of public health. The questionnaire covered overall climate for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender faculty; faculty and student lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender research; and planned lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender health curricula.

The majority of schools include sexual orientation in their non-discrimination policy. Of the 102 respondents, 41 percent reported having at least one faculty member who was conducting research on an issue related to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender health - yet the majority of the research was on HIV/AIDS.

In addition, fewer than 10 percent of the departments had offered a course covering lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender health topics in the previous two years.

The importance of offering such courses and providing research are highlighted by previous studies identifying that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are at increased risk for some health problems, such as substance use and being victims of violence. They also face "unique barriers to accessing and utilizing appropriate health services," the study’s authors said. "Consequently, factors associated with sexual orientation and gender identity are increasingly recognized as important to consider in public health practice and research." In recognition of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender health disparities, official American Public Health Association policy urges educational institutions to support efforts to improve the health of this population.

(From: "Research, Curricula, and Resources Related to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health in U.S. Schools of Public Health." Heather L. Corliss, PhD, MPH, Children’s Hospital, Boston, Mass.)

The American Journal of Public Health is the monthly journal of the American Public Health Association (APHA), the oldest organization of public health professionals in the world. APHA is a leading publisher of books and periodicals promoting sound scientific standards, action programs and public policy to enhance health. More information is available at www.apha.org.

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