Reporting Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data in US Health Centers

introduction

Collecting data on sexual orientation and gender identity is necessary to address health inequalities. This study examines the reporting of data on sexual orientation and gender identity in community health centers.

Methods

Using the 2016-2019 uniform data system for 1,381 community health centers, trends in reporting data on sexual orientation and gender identity were examined. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess associations between community health center characteristics and whether data on sexual orientation and gender identity were available for ≥75% of patients at a community health center in 2019. Data was analyzed in 2021.

Results

In 2016-2019, the percentage of community health centers with sexual orientation and gender identity data for ≥75% of patients increased from 14.9% to 53.0%. In 2019, community health centers were more likely to have this data for ≥75% of patients if they were in non-metropolitan counties (OR=1.48, 95% CI=1.04, 2, 10 compared to metro), were in the South (OR = 2.27, 95% CI = 1.57, 3.31) or West (OR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.27, 2 .88 compared to the North East), and had more patients aged 18-39 (OR=1.04, 95% CI=1.02, 1.07), 40-64 (OR= 1.04, 95% CI=1.02, 1.06 vs. 20,000 patients (OR=0.44, 95% CI=0.32, 0.61 vs