More than half of Gay and Bisexual Men Need Hepatitis Vaccination
Sat. December 6, 2003 12:00 AM
Clear Disparities in Access to Healthcare
San Francisco, CA -
December 4, 2003, San Francisco -- A survey conducted by the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) at Gay Pride events around the country this summer indicates that more than half of the nation’s gay and bisexual men may not be protected against hepatitis A and hepatitis B, two serious liver diseases which disproportionately affect men who have sex with men.
Symptoms of hepatitis A and hepatitis B include fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, stomach discomfort, dark urine and jaundice. In 5% to 10% of cases, hepatitis B infection becomes chronic and may cause primary liver cancer, which can lead to death. Immunity is conferred by prior infection or by vaccination. Routine vaccination against both hepatitis A and hepatitis B is recommended for all gay and bisexual men by the CDC and the GLMA.
1430 respondents completed surveys at Gay Pride festivals:
33% of the respondents were judged to be fully immune to hepatitis A (through prior infection or immunization; 39% were completely immune to hepatitis B.
8% were judged partially immune to hepatitis A (no prior infection, incomplete vaccination series); 9% were partially immune to hepatitis B. 40% were judged not immune to hepatitis A; 32% were not immune to hepatitis B. For 20% of respondents it was impossible to judge their immunity to either hepatitis A or hepatitis B from their survey responses.
There were clear disparities in access to healthcare among respondents:
86% of white respondents had healthcare coverage, compared to 77% for African American respondents and 66% for Latino respondents.
87% of white respondents had a regular healthcare provider, compared to 79% of African American respondents and 74% of Latino respondents.
71% of white respondents were “out” to their healthcare provider, compared with 63% of African American respondents and 58% of Latino respondents.
Ethnicity was also an important factor in immunity:
Among white respondents, 36% were immune to hepatitis A and 43% to hepatitis B. Among Latino respondents, 32% were immune to both hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Only 26% of African American respondents were immune to hepatitis A and 29% to hepatitis B.
Immunity rates rose with income, and were higher for respondents with healthcare coverage, a regular healthcare provider, and respondents who were “out” to their healthcare provider.
· Only 27% of respondents with an income under $25,000 per year were immune to hepatitis A (30% for hepatitis B), while 46% of respondents with an income over $100,000 were immune to hepatitis A (56% for hepatitis B).
· Respondents with regular healthcare providers were almost twice as likely to be immune: 35% vs 20% for hepatitis A; 43% vs. 22% for hepatitis B.
· Respondents with healthcare coverage were 35% more likely to be immune to hepatitis A (35% vs. 26%) and 55% more likely to be immune to hepatitis B (42% vs. 27%).
· Respondents who were “out” to their provider were 65% more likely to be immune to hepatitis A (38% vs. 23%) and 52% more likely to be immune to hepatitis B (44% vs. 29%).
“These results clearly show how much work still needs to be done to protect gay and bisexual men in the country against hepatitis A and hepatitis B,” said Ken Haller, MD, President of the Board of the GLMA. “Gay and bisexual men need to ask their providers about hepatitis vaccination, and providers need to be trained to make sure their gay and bisexual male patients are protected against these diseases.”
“Equally troubling are the healthcare disparities shown in these survey results,” said Haller. “Men with lower incomes are less likely to be immune, as are Latino and African American men. Men whose providers do not know they have sex with other men are also less likely to be protected: another reason to demand open and non-judgmental communication between gay and bisexual men and their providers.”
Information about hepatitis A and hepatitis B, along with a list of gay-friendly provider/members, is available at GLMA.org. A national list of free and low-cost hepatitis vaccination programs is available at HepClinics.com.
Symptoms of hepatitis A and hepatitis B include fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, stomach discomfort, dark urine and jaundice. In 5% to 10% of cases, hepatitis B infection becomes chronic and may cause primary liver cancer, which can lead to death. Immunity is conferred by prior infection or by vaccination. Routine vaccination against both hepatitis A and hepatitis B is recommended for all gay and bisexual men by the CDC and the GLMA.
1430 respondents completed surveys at Gay Pride festivals:
33% of the respondents were judged to be fully immune to hepatitis A (through prior infection or immunization; 39% were completely immune to hepatitis B.
8% were judged partially immune to hepatitis A (no prior infection, incomplete vaccination series); 9% were partially immune to hepatitis B. 40% were judged not immune to hepatitis A; 32% were not immune to hepatitis B. For 20% of respondents it was impossible to judge their immunity to either hepatitis A or hepatitis B from their survey responses.
There were clear disparities in access to healthcare among respondents:
86% of white respondents had healthcare coverage, compared to 77% for African American respondents and 66% for Latino respondents.
87% of white respondents had a regular healthcare provider, compared to 79% of African American respondents and 74% of Latino respondents.
71% of white respondents were “out” to their healthcare provider, compared with 63% of African American respondents and 58% of Latino respondents.
Ethnicity was also an important factor in immunity:
Among white respondents, 36% were immune to hepatitis A and 43% to hepatitis B. Among Latino respondents, 32% were immune to both hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Only 26% of African American respondents were immune to hepatitis A and 29% to hepatitis B.
Immunity rates rose with income, and were higher for respondents with healthcare coverage, a regular healthcare provider, and respondents who were “out” to their healthcare provider.
· Only 27% of respondents with an income under $25,000 per year were immune to hepatitis A (30% for hepatitis B), while 46% of respondents with an income over $100,000 were immune to hepatitis A (56% for hepatitis B).
· Respondents with regular healthcare providers were almost twice as likely to be immune: 35% vs 20% for hepatitis A; 43% vs. 22% for hepatitis B.
· Respondents with healthcare coverage were 35% more likely to be immune to hepatitis A (35% vs. 26%) and 55% more likely to be immune to hepatitis B (42% vs. 27%).
· Respondents who were “out” to their provider were 65% more likely to be immune to hepatitis A (38% vs. 23%) and 52% more likely to be immune to hepatitis B (44% vs. 29%).
“These results clearly show how much work still needs to be done to protect gay and bisexual men in the country against hepatitis A and hepatitis B,” said Ken Haller, MD, President of the Board of the GLMA. “Gay and bisexual men need to ask their providers about hepatitis vaccination, and providers need to be trained to make sure their gay and bisexual male patients are protected against these diseases.”
“Equally troubling are the healthcare disparities shown in these survey results,” said Haller. “Men with lower incomes are less likely to be immune, as are Latino and African American men. Men whose providers do not know they have sex with other men are also less likely to be protected: another reason to demand open and non-judgmental communication between gay and bisexual men and their providers.”
Information about hepatitis A and hepatitis B, along with a list of gay-friendly provider/members, is available at GLMA.org. A national list of free and low-cost hepatitis vaccination programs is available at HepClinics.com.