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Food Insecurity Among LGBQ+ Veterans
Sylvia V Haigh1, Christopher W Halladay1, Michael R Kauth2,3
1Transformative Health Systems Research to Improve Veteran Equity and Independence Center of Innovation, Veterans Affairs Providence Healthcare System, Providence, Rhode Island.
JAMA Network Open
|November 4, 2024
Summary
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and similar (LGBQ+) veterans and those with unknown sexual orientation are twice as likely to experience food insecurity. This highlights a need for targeted interventions for this vulnerable veteran population.
Area of Science:
- Veterans Health Administration research
- Public health and epidemiology
- Social determinants of health
Background:
- Food insecurity is linked to adverse health outcomes, but its prevalence among lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and similar (LGBQ+) veterans is understudied.
- LGBQ+ individuals face unique social barriers and medical comorbidities that may increase vulnerability to food insecurity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of food insecurity among LGBQ+ veterans.
- To identify sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial risk factors associated with food insecurity in LGBQ+ veterans compared to heterosexual veterans.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective, cross-sectional study analyzed administrative data from US Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities.
- Included veterans screened for food insecurity between March 2021 and August 2023.
- Compared food insecurity prevalence and risk factors between LGBQ+, heterosexual, and "don't know" sexual orientation groups.
Main Results:
- LGBQ+ veterans (6.4%) and those with "don't know" responses (6.2%) were more than twice as likely to screen positive for food insecurity compared to heterosexual veterans (2.6%).
- While risk factors were similar across groups, LGBQ+ veterans had higher rates of younger age, female sex assigned at birth, minoritized racial/ethnic group, unmarried status, low income, homelessness, anxiety, depression, suicidality, PTSD, substance use disorder, military sexual trauma, and intimate partner violence.
- Food insecurity prevalence was 2.5 times higher in LGBQ+ and "don't know" groups compared to heterosexual veterans.
Conclusions:
- LGBQ+ veterans experience significantly higher rates of food insecurity.
- LGBQ+ veterans face a greater burden of risk factors, including homelessness and mental health comorbidities.
- Targeted screening and interventions are crucial to address food insecurity in this vulnerable veteran population.
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