Post–Sexual Assault Health Care Utilization Among OEF/OIF Servicewomen

Bibliographic Data

ID9102588
AuthorsMichelle A Mengeling (0000-0003-0337-9215, University of Iowa, corresponding author), Brenda M Booth (0000-0002-0102-6443, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System), James C Torner (0000-0003-0979-4874, University of Iowa), Anne G Sadler (0000-0001-5020-3752, corresponding author)
Year2015
Volume53
IssueSupplement 4Suppl 1
PagesS136-S142
Publication date2015-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueMedical Care (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0025-7079 • E-ISSN: 1537-1948
PublisherOvid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1097/mlr.0000000000000267
PMID25767967
OpenAlexW1989076626
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited26

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Few who experience sexual assault seek health care immediately. Yet many become heavy users of health care resources in the years postassault because sexual violence has been linked with both acute and chronic health consequences. Our objective was to investigate servicewomen's medical and mental health (MH) care utilization after sexual assault in-military (SAIM) and identify reasons for not seeking care. METHODS: In a retrospective cross-sectional Midwestern community sample of OEF/OIF Active Component and Reserve/National Guard servicewomen, currently serving and veterans, computer-assisted telephone interviews were conducted with 207 servicewomen who experienced SAIM. RESULTS: A quarter (25%) received post-SAIM MH care and 16% medical care. Utilization of medical care tended to be sooner (within the first month) and MH care later (6 mo to 1+ y). Most sought care on a military base, a third from civilian providers, and 10% sought MH from Veterans Health Administration. Servicewomen were more likely to have utilized medical care if they had experienced a completed SAIM and made a Department of Defense SAIM report and MH care if they were white, experienced on-duty SAIM, and made a Department of Defense SAIM report. The most common reason for not seeking medical care was due to belief that care was not needed. Reasons for not utilizing medical or MH care included embarrassment, confidentiality concerns, and fear of adverse career consequences. CONCLUSIONS: Few servicewomen utilized post-SAIM care, thus assault-specific health consequences were likely unaddressed. Given the severe and chronic consequences of sexual assault, our findings emphasize need for military, Veterans Health Administration, and civilian providers to query SAIM history to provide timely and optimal care

Emergency Medicine · Gender, Security, and Conflict · Medicine · Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research · Sexual Assault and Victimization Studies

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