A Nationwide Survey of COVID-19 Testing in LGBTQ+ Populations in the United States

Abstract

Objectives Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer and questioning (LGBTQ+) people and populations face myriad health disparities that are likely to be evident during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objectives of our study were to describe patterns of COVID-19 testing among LGBTQ+ people and to differentiate rates of COVID-19 testing and test results by sociodemographic characteristics. Methods Participants residing in the United States and US territories (N = 1090) aged ≥18 completed an internet-based survey from May through July 2020 that assessed COVID-19 testing and test results and sociodemographic characteristics, including sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI). We analyzed data on receipt and results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and antibody testing for SARS-CoV-2 and symptoms of COVID-19 in relation to sociodemographic characteristics. Results Of the 1090 participants, 182 (16.7%) received a PCR test; of these, 16 (8.8%) had a positive test result. Of the 124 (11.4%) who received an antibody test, 45 (36.3%) had antibodies. Rates of PCR testing were higher among participants who were non–US-born (25.4%) versus US-born (16.3%) and employed full-time or part-time (18.5%) versus unemployed (10.8%). Antibody testing rates were higher among gay cisgender men (17.2%) versus other SOGI groups, non–US-born (25.4%) versus US-born participants, employed (12.6%) versus unemployed participants, and participants residing in the Northeast (20.0%) versus other regions. Among SOGI groups with sufficient cell sizes (n > 10), positive PCR results were highest among cisgender gay men (16.1%). Conclusions The differential patterns of testing and positivity, particularly among gay men in our sample, confirm the need to create COVID-19 public health messaging and programming that attend to the LGBTQ+ population.

Employment Loss as a Result of COVID-19: a Nationwide Survey at the Onset of COVID-19 in US LGBTQ+ Populations

“…This cross-sectional study examined experiences due to COVID-19 among LGBTQ+ individuals in the US through an internet-based survey from May 2020 through July 2020. Study design and recruitment strategies have been previously described in more detail (Martino et al, 2021 ). To summarize, eligibility criteria included participants who were 18 years or older, identified LGBTQ+, and lived in the US, including the US territories.…”

Disparities in Mental Health and Well-Being between Heterosexual and Sexual Minority Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Taken together, the study's findings highlight several important implications for practice and public policy concerning sexual minority older adults. First, the findings underscore the critical importance of including questions about sexual orientation and gender identity in large-scale surveys and government data collection efforts, a current shortcoming that scholars and advocates have asked public officials to address (e.g., Akre et al, 2021;Martino et al, 2021). Currently, data on the experience of sexual minorities during the pandemic is sparse.…”

Public Health Reports in 2021: Impact Factor Increase and New Article Collections on Racism and COVID-19

“…Several COVID-19 articles published in 2021 were particularly noteworthy. For example, one article analyzed the effectiveness of the 6 most common social distancing policies in the United States during the pandemic's early phase 21 (38 citations and 8965 views and downloads, as assessed on January 6, 2022), an article that reported high levels of COVID-19-related mental health distress among grocery 25 ; national testing patterns among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer and questioning (LGBTQ+) populations 26 ; the range of underestimation of COVID-19-associated mortality in Puerto Rico 27 ; infection risks among immigrant essential workers 28 ; adverse health effects associated with increased use of disinfectants during the pandemic 29 ; and disproportionate COVID-19 test positivity among Black and Hispanic/Latino veterans. 30 The full, continuously updated collection of PHR's articles on COVID-19 is available online in open access.…”

“…Other important COVID-19 articles published in PHR in 2021 spotlighted the design and privacy protections of CDC datasets of patient-level data on COVID-19 cases 24 ; a pooling-based testing strategy to facilitate in-person schooling 25 ; national testing patterns among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer and questioning (LGBTQ+) populations 26 ; the range of underestimation of COVID-19–associated mortality in Puerto Rico 27 ; infection risks among immigrant essential workers 28 ; adverse health effects associated with increased use of disinfectants during the pandemic 29 ; and disproportionate COVID-19 test positivity among Black and Hispanic/Latino veterans. 30 The full, continuously updated collection of PHR ’s articles on COVID-19 is available online in open access.…”