Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #104868

Diana E. Ramos, MD, MPH¹, Arlene Bradley, MD², Claudine Armand, MD³, Andy Lanto, MA¹, Barbara Simon, MA¹, and Lisa V. Rubenstein, MD, MSPH⁴. (1) Women's Health, Center for the Study of Healthcare Provider Behavior, HSR&D Center of Excellence, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Sepu, P.O. Box 3616, South Pasadena, CA 91031, (323) 226-0103, drdramos@hotmail.com, (2) VA Roseburg Healthcare System, P.O. Box 3616, South Pasadena, CA 91031, (3) Healthcare Partners, P.O. Box 3616, South Pasadena, CA 91031, (4) RAND, VA Greater Los Angeles, UCLA, & RAND, P.O. Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence and associated health effects of physical and/or sexual assault among female veterans using VA healthcare, before and during military service.

METHODS: Trained interviewers surveyed consecutive female veterans visiting one of two Western region VA outpatient clinics, one rural and one urban.

RESULTS: Ninety-eight of 102 female veterans agreed to participate in the survey. Almost fifty percent (48/98) reported physical assault during their lifetime. For 15 of these 48 (31%) at least one physical assault was perpetrated by military personnel. Sexual assault was reported by 47% during their lifetime, with 20% reporting at least one sexual assault perpetrated by military personnel. Women reporting any assault had greater emotional impairment than women without assault regardless of whether the assault occurred during military service or not (p < 0.05). Assaulted women had higher rates of depression, emotional impairment, decreased mental health status and were more likely to smoke and abuse alcohol (p value <0.05 for all). Thirty-nine percent of assaulted female veterans utilized counseling services.

CONCLUSION: A high proportion of female veterans receiving VA primary care report physical and/or sexual assault during their military service during the course of their lives. Nearly one-third of the assaults involved military personnel. The majority of assaulted women never received counseling. These data confirm prior studies indicating the need for better screening and management of physical and sexual assault for women in the military.

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