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Women veterans' reproductive health preferences and experiences: a focus group analysis

dc.contributor.authorMattocks, Kristin M.
dc.contributor.authorNikolajski, Cara
dc.contributor.authorHaskell, Sally G.
dc.contributor.authorBrandt, Cynthia A.
dc.contributor.authorMcCall-Hosenfeld, Jennifer
dc.contributor.authorYano, Elizabeth M.
dc.contributor.authorPham, Tan
dc.contributor.authorBorrero, Sonya
dc.date2022-08-11T08:11:05.000
dc.date.accessioned2022-08-23T17:32:49Z
dc.date.available2022-08-23T17:32:49Z
dc.date.issued2011-03-01
dc.date.submitted2014-06-19
dc.identifier.citationWomens Health Issues. 2011 Mar-Apr;21(2):124-9. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2010.11.002. <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2010.11.002">Link to article on publisher's site</a>
dc.identifier.issn1049-3867 (Linking)
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.whi.2010.11.002
dc.identifier.pmid21353978
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/51030
dc.description.abstractOBJECTIVE: Although women veterans are seeking care at the Veterans Administration (VA) in record numbers, there is little information regarding women veterans' experiences and preferences for reproductive health care services. We sought to characterize women veterans' experiences with, and preferences for, reproductive health services in the VA. METHODS: We conducted five focus groups with a total of 25 participants using a semistructured interview guide to elicit women veterans' experiences and preferences with reproductive health care. Women veterans' utilizing VA health care at two VA facilities who responded to advertisements were selected on a first-come basis to participate in the study. We analyzed transcripts of these audio-recorded sessions using the constant comparative method of grounded theory. RESULTS: Five main themes emerged from the focus group discussions: 1) Women veterans prefer VA women's clinics for comprehensive medical care; 2) Women veterans have had both positive and negative reproductive health experiences in the VA; 3) Women veterans experience knowledge gaps regarding VA coverage for reproductive health services; 4) Women veterans believe the VA should provide additional coverage for advanced infertility care and for newborns; and 5) Perceived gender discrimination shapes how women veterans view the VA. CONCLUSION: As the VA continues to tailor its services to women veterans, attention should be given to women's reproductive health care needs. All rights reserved.
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.relation<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&list_uids=21353978&dopt=Abstract">Link to Article in PubMed</a>
dc.relation.urlhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2010.11.002
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectFemale
dc.subjectFocus Groups
dc.subjectHealth Care Surveys
dc.subjectHealth Services Needs and Demand
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectMiddle Aged
dc.subjectPatient Acceptance of Health Care
dc.subject*Patient Preference
dc.subjectPhysician-Patient Relations
dc.subjectPrejudice
dc.subjectReproductive Health Services
dc.subjectUnited States
dc.subjectUnited States Department of Veterans Affairs
dc.subjectVeterans
dc.subjectWomen
dc.subjectWomen's Health Services
dc.subjectMaternal and Child Health
dc.subjectMilitary and Veterans Studies
dc.subjectObstetrics and Gynecology
dc.subjectWomen's Health
dc.titleWomen veterans' reproductive health preferences and experiences: a focus group analysis
dc.typeJournal Article
dc.source.journaltitleWomen's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health
dc.source.volume21
dc.source.issue2
dc.identifier.legacycoverpagehttps://escholarship.umassmed.edu/wfc_pp/565
dc.identifier.contextkey5705557
html.description.abstract<p>OBJECTIVE: Although women veterans are seeking care at the Veterans Administration (VA) in record numbers, there is little information regarding women veterans' experiences and preferences for reproductive health care services. We sought to characterize women veterans' experiences with, and preferences for, reproductive health services in the VA. METHODS: We conducted five focus groups with a total of 25 participants using a semistructured interview guide to elicit women veterans' experiences and preferences with reproductive health care. Women veterans' utilizing VA health care at two VA facilities who responded to advertisements were selected on a first-come basis to participate in the study. We analyzed transcripts of these audio-recorded sessions using the constant comparative method of grounded theory. RESULTS: Five main themes emerged from the focus group discussions: 1) Women veterans prefer VA women's clinics for comprehensive medical care; 2) Women veterans have had both positive and negative reproductive health experiences in the VA; 3) Women veterans experience knowledge gaps regarding VA coverage for reproductive health services; 4) Women veterans believe the VA should provide additional coverage for advanced infertility care and for newborns; and 5) Perceived gender discrimination shapes how women veterans view the VA. CONCLUSION: As the VA continues to tailor its services to women veterans, attention should be given to women's reproductive health care needs. All rights reserved.</p>
dc.identifier.submissionpathwfc_pp/565
dc.contributor.departmentDepartment of Quantitative Health Sciences
dc.source.pages124-9


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