Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Reproductive Health Outcomes Among Women Veterans: A Research Note

There are a growing number of U. S. women veterans. The goal of this study was to examine the frequency of reproductive health conditions, as well as racial/ethnic disparities within reproductive health concerns, among a sample of women veterans who were referred by their primary care providers for...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Armed forces and society 2024-04, Vol.50 (2), p.562-573
Main Authors: Collison, Katherine, Naftaly, Jessica P., Colangelo, Kathleen
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Black people
Black women
Clinical outcomes
Cultural differences
Dyspareunia
Endometriosis
Ethnic differences
Ethnic groups
Ethnicity
Health care industry
Health disparities
Health problems
Health services
Health status
Infertility
Medical personnel
Medical screening
Mental health services
Osteoporosis
Pain
Pelvic pain
Perinatal
Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Primary care
Race
Racial differences
Racial inequality
Reproductive health
Sexually transmitted diseases
STD
Veterans
Women
Womens health
Working women
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Summary:There are a growing number of U. S. women veterans. The goal of this study was to examine the frequency of reproductive health conditions, as well as racial/ethnic disparities within reproductive health concerns, among a sample of women veterans who were referred by their primary care providers for a psychiatric evaluation. Cross-sectional data were collected from 701 women veterans in a Women’s Health Clinic at a VA Medical Center. The most commonly reported reproductive health conditions were dyspareunia, pelvic pain, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Other reproductive health conditions reported by women veterans included endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and osteoporosis. Black women veterans had significantly higher rates of endometriosis compared with the other racial/ethnic groups. Prevalence of PCOS, dyspareunia, osteoporosis, STIs, pelvic pain, perinatal loss, and infertility treatment did not differ across race/ethnicity. Health care providers working with women veterans should engage in regular screening of reproductive health conditions for women across all demographic groups.
ISSN:0095-327X
1556-0848
DOI:10.1177/0095327X221131357