Effect of Same-Sex Marriage Laws on Health Care Use and Expenditures in Sexual Minority Men: A Quasi-Natural Experiment
Effect of Same-Sex Marriage Laws on Health Care Use and Expenditures in Sexual Minority Men: A Quasi-Natural Experiment
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DOI：
10.2105/ajph.2011.300382
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发表时间：
2012-02-01
影响因子：
12.7
通讯作者：
Bradford, Judith
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Hatzenbuehler, Mark L.;O'Cleirigh, Conall;Bradford, Judith
目标.我们试图确定同性恋和双性恋男性的医疗保健使用和支出是否在2003年马萨诸塞州颁布同性婚姻法后减少。我们使用了来自马萨诸塞州社区健康中心的1211名性少数男性患者的准实验性前瞻性数据。在同性婚姻合法化后的12个月里，性少数男性的医疗护理访问量在统计上显著下降（平均值=5.00 vs平均值=4.67; P= 0.05; Cohen's d=0.17），精神卫生保健访视（平均值=24.72 vs平均值=22.20; P= 0.03; Cohen's d=0.35）和精神卫生保健费用（平均值= 2442.28 vs平均值= 2137.38; P= 0.01; Cohen's d=0.41），与法律变更前的12个月相比。这些影响没有修改的伙伴关系的地位，表明同性婚姻法的健康影响是类似的合作伙伴和nonpartnered男子。给予同性伴侣保护的政策可能有效地减少性少数男性的医疗保健使用和费用。(Am J公共卫生。2012;102：285-291. doi：10.2105/AJPH.2011.300382）
Objectives. We sought to determine whether health care use and expenditures among gay and bisexual men were reduced following the enactment of same-sex marriage laws in Massachusetts in 2003.Methods. We used quasi-experimental, prospective data from 1211 sexual minority male patients in a community-based health center in Massachusetts.Results. In the 12 months after the legalization of same-sex marriage, sexual minority men had a statistically significant decrease in medical care visits (mean=5.00 vs mean=4.67; P=.05; Cohen's d=0.17), mental health care visits (mean=24.72 vs mean=22.20; P=.03; Cohen's d=0.35), and mental health care costs (mean=$2442.28 vs mean=$2137.38; P=.01; Cohen's d=0.41), compared with the 12 months before the law change. These effects were not modified by partnership status, indicating that the health effect of same-sex marriage laws was similar for partnered and nonpartnered men.Conclusions. Policies that confer protections to same-sex couples may be effective in reducing health care use and costs among sexual minority men. (Am J Public Health. 2012;102:285-291. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2011.300382)