HEALTH RISK-FACTORS AND HEALTH-SEEKING BEHAVIOR IN LESBIANS

Lesbians may engage in behavior that places their health at risk and m ay delay health care and screening more than do their heterosexual cou nterparts. This article examines influences on lesbians' health risk f actors and health-seeking behaviors. A statewide, self-administered su rvey of members of a lesbian community organization was performed. Uni variate and bivariate analyses were calculated, and linear regression was used to examine models of health risks and health-seeking behavior . Of 324 respondents, 90% had disclosed sexual orientation to at least one provider, 22% reported seeking care without symptoms (preventive care), and 23% reported waiting until symptoms are at their worst or n ever seeking care. Young age, belief in the importance of lung cancer, difficulty of getting health care when needed, reliance on the partne r for health support, and fewer male partners were all associated with greater health risk for lesbians. Difficulty obtaining health care, d ifficulty communicating with the primary care provider, discomfort in discussing depression, and degree of comfort in discussing menopause w ere all associated with a delay in seeking health care. Sensitive comm unication with lesbians and further identification of lesbians' specif ic barriers to care may improve health-seeking behavior and provide mo re opportunities for screening and risk factor counseling in this popu lation.