Behavioral risk factors for disease and preventive health practices among lesbians

This study compared the prevalence of health behaviors among lesbians and in the general population of women. We used a cross-sectional community-based survey of 1010 self-identified lesbians 18 years or older. Compared with the general population of women, lesbians were more likely to report cigare...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of public health (1971) 2001-06, Vol.91 (6), p.972-975
Main Authors: Aaron, DJ, Markovic, N, Danielson, ME, Honnold, JA, Janosky, JE, Schmidt, NJ
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Alcohol Drinking - epidemiology
Alcohol use
Behavioural aspects
Biological and medical sciences
Cardiovascular disease
Chronic illnesses
Data collection
Demographics
Disease
Editing
Epidemiology
Exercise
Female
Gays & lesbians
Health
Health behavior
Health risk assessment
Health Status Indicators
Heterosexuality
Homosexuality, Female - psychology
Homosexuality, Female - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Lesbians
Lifestyles
Mammography
Medical sciences
Medical screening
Middle Aged
Patient Acceptance of Health Care - statistics & numerical data
Pennsylvania - epidemiology
Pittsburgh
Population
Prevention and actions
Preventive health care
Preventive Health Services - statistics & numerical data
Public health
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Risk Factors
Risk-Taking
Smoking - epidemiology
Specific populations (family, woman, child, elderly...)
Surveys and Questionnaires
United States - epidemiology
USA
Women
Women's Health
Womens health
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Summary:This study compared the prevalence of health behaviors among lesbians and in the general population of women. We used a cross-sectional community-based survey of 1010 self-identified lesbians 18 years or older. Compared with the general population of women, lesbians were more likely to report cigarette use, alcohol use, and heavy alcohol use. A higher percentage of lesbians were categorized as overweight, and lesbians were more likely to participate in vigorous physical activity. They were less likely to report having had a Papanicolaou test within the past 2 years but more likely to report ever having had a mammogram. While there may be differences in health behaviors between lesbians and the general population of women, how these differences influence the risk of subsequent disease is unknown.
ISSN:0090-0036
1541-0048
DOI:10.2105/AJPH.91.6.972