Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Reproductive Health Outcomes Among Women Veterans

A Research Note

Bibliographic Data

ID11102793
AuthorsKatherine L Collison (0000-0002-6274-9768, Family Research Institute, corresponding author), Katherine Collison (The Family Institute at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA), Jessica P Naftaly (University of Michigan), Kathleen Colangelo (Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital, IL, USA)
Year2024
Volume50
Issue2
Pages562-573
Publication date2024-04-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueArmed Forces & Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0095-327X • E-ISSN: 1556-0848
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0095327x221131357
OpenAlexW4307835432
LanguageEN
References cited32

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

Environmental health · Ethnic group · Family medicine · Gynecology · Health care · Health equity · Infertility · Obesity · Pelvic pain · Polycystic ovary · Population · Pregnancy · Public health · Reproductive health · Endometriosis Research and Treatment · Medicine · Nursing · Ovarian function and disorders · Reproductive Health and Contraception · Reproductive Medicine · Gerontology

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