Racial/Ethnic and Sexual Orientation Identity Differences in the Receipt of a Sexual History Assessment from a Health Care Provider among Women in the United States.

BACKGROUND

Differential sexual history assessment, whereby certain groups are more or less likely to be asked questions about their sexual behavior by a health care provider, may lead to differential sexual health care and counseling.

METHODS

Using nationally representative data from the 2013 through 2019 waves of the National Survey of Family Growth, we examined racial/ethnic and sexual orientation identity differences in receiving a sexual history assessment from a health care provider in the last 12 months among U.S. women aged 15-44 years (N = 14,019).

RESULTS

Adjusting for survey wave, Black and Latina heterosexual women; White, Black, and Latina bisexual women; and Black or Latina lesbian women had higher odds (odds ratio range, 1.47 [Latina heterosexual] to 2.71 [Black bisexual]) of having received a sexual history assessment in the last 12 months compared with White heterosexual women. All differences except for those among Black or Latina lesbian women persisted after controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, and health care factors (odds ratio range, 1.43 [Latina heterosexual] to 2.14 [Black bisexual]). Of note, Black bisexual women, about whom providers may hold biased assumptions of promiscuity rooted in both racism and biphobia, had the highest predicted probability of being asked about their sexual behavior by a provider.

CONCLUSIONS

Person-centered, structurally competent, and anti-oppressive practices and programs aimed at combating bias, stigma, and discrimination in the health care system and facilitating an inclusive clinic environment for all patients are needed to address differences in the provision of sexual health services and promote sexual health equity.