Adding sexual orientation questions to statewide public health surveillance: New Mexico's experience.
We examined refusal rates for sensitive demographic questions to determine whether questions on sexual orientation are too sensitive for routine use on public health surveys. We compared the percentage of active refusals in New Mexico for a sexual orientation question and 6 other sensitive demographic questions. In 2007 and 2008, refusal rates for sexual orientation questions were similar to rates for questions on race/ethnicity and weight and significantly lower than rates for questions on household income. Perceptions that sexual orientation is too controversial a topic to be included on state surveys may be unfounded.
VanKim
Nicole A
NA
Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, New Mexico Department of Health, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Padilla
James L
JL
Lee
Joseph G L
JG
Goldstein
Adam O
AO
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009516:New Mexico; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D045808:Refusal to Participate / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult