Publication year
2016
Citation Title
Prevalence of intimate partner violence among women veterans who utilize veterans health administration primary care
Journal Name
Journal of General Internal Medicine
Journal Volume
31
Issue Number
8
Page Numbers
888-894
DOI
10.1007/s11606-016-3701-7
Summary
Identification of the prevalence of past-year intimate partner violence (IPV) among women Veterans, utilizing Veterans Health Administration primary care, and associations with demographic, military, and primary care characteristics was conducted. Using data from a national survey, findings suggest a notable prevalence of IPV among women Veterans under 55 years old.
Key Findings
The prevalence of past-year IPV among surveyed women Veterans was 19%, with higher rates (22% - 26%) among women under 55 years of age.
Past-year IPV was associated with women’s service during Vietnam to post-Vietnam eras, less than 10 years of service, and experiences of Military Sexual Trauma.
Compared with women who did not report past-year IPV, women who reported IPV had more primary care visits, yet experienced lower continuity of care across providers.
Implications for Program Leaders
Continue providing training opportunities for professionals working with Service members and their families to learn more about IPV and its effects on the individual as well as their family
Engage female Service members and their intimate partners in classes that aim to increase communication and decrease physical or verbal aggression
Disseminate information regarding possible warning signs of intimate partner violence to professionals working with Service members and their families
Implications for Policy Makers
Promote the development of structured workshops for Service members and their partners on healthy relationships
Encourage awareness among professionals working with female Service members and their partners on the importance of developing programming and support for IPV victims
Recommend collaboration between DoD programs and local community organizations to support treatment programs for female Service members who are IPV victims
Methods
The study sample came from the 6,046 women Veterans that completed the WOMAN (Women’s Overall Mental Health Assessment of Needs) survey, a national telephone survey.
The humiliation, afraid, rape, kick (HARK) IPV screening tool was used to determine women Veterans past-year IPV.
Quantitative analysis was conducted to determine what, if any, associations there were between women Veterans’ past-year IPV and military or primary care experiences.
Participants
At the time of the study 44% of the women Veterans were married, 40% were divorced, and 16% had never been married.
Twenty-one percent of the women Veterans were a part of the Air Force, 51% the Army, 22% the Navy, and 6% the Marines.
Participants identified as White (67%), as Black (23%), and Other (10%).
Limitations
The survey was conducted over the phone, which for more sensitive issues could limit what people are willing to share with a stranger.
Recall bias of the women Veterans about past traumatic events could have impacted IPV prevalence estimates; therefore, results should be noted with caution.
This study focused only on women Veterans who were apart of the Veterans Health Administration primary care system; therefore, results are not generalizable.
Avenues for Future Research
Evaluate effective treatment programs for female Service members IPV victims
Investigate what both the short and long term effects are on women Veterans’ who are IPV victims
Explore the long-term health consequences of experiencing intimate partner violence, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and involvement in health risk behaviors like alcohol use
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Objectives: The objectives of this study were to identify the prevalence of past-year intimate partner violence (IPV) among women Veterans utilizing Veterans Health Administration (VHA) primary care, and to document associated demographic, military, and primary care characteristics. Design: This was a retrospective cohort design, where participants completed a telephone survey in 2012 (84% participation rate); responses were linked to VHA administrative data for utilization in the year prior to the survey. Participants: A national stratified random sample of 6,287 women Veteran VHA primary care users participated in the study. Main measures: Past-year IPV was assessed using the HARK screening tool. Self-report items and scales assessed demographic and military characteristics. Primary care characteristics were assessed via self-report and VHA administrative data. Key results: The prevalence of past-year IPV among women Veterans was 18.5% (sd = 0.5%), with higher rates (22.2% - 25.5%) among women up to age 55. Other demographic correlates included indicators of economic hardship, lesbian or bisexual orientation, and being a parent/guardian of a child less than 18 years old. Military correlates included service during Vietnam to post-Vietnam eras, less than 10 years of service, and experiences of Military Sexual Trauma (MST). Most (77.3%, se = 1.2%) women who experienced IPV identified a VHA provider as their usual provider. Compared with women who did not report past-year IPV, women who reported IPV had more primary care visits, yet experienced lower continuity of care across providers. Conclusions: The high prevalence of past-year IPV among women beyond childbearing years, the majority of whom primarily rely on VHA as a source of health care, reinforces the importance of screening all women for IPV in VHA primary care settings. Key considerations for service implementation include sensitivity with respect to sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, and other aspects of diversity, as well as care coordination and linkages with social services and MST-related care.
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