TY - JOUR
T1 - Women's health care in Operation Iraqi Freedom
T2 - a survey of camps with echelon I or II facilities.
AU - Thomson, Brook Allen
AU - Nielsen, Peter Edward
PY - 2006/3
Y1 - 2006/3
N2 - OBJECTIVE: To assess women's perceptions of health care delivery in Operation Iraqi Freedom. METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire was distributed through command channels to female soldiers stationed in camps receiving echelon I or II care. Questions covered predeployment screening, contraceptive method availability and side effects, accessibility of gynecologic care, field hygiene counseling, and smoking status. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-one (91%) of 275 surveys were returned. Twenty-two percent of respondents had received no annual gynecologic examination including the Papanicolaou test/cervical cytologic study in the past year. Irregular bleeding was the most common gynecologic side effect. Ortho Evra patches fell off in 58% of cases; 23% of soldiers changed contraceptive methods because of unavailability, 21% experienced gynecologic problems, and 44% could not access gynecologic care. Twenty-six percent received predeployment menstrual hygiene counseling, and 77% attempting cycle control succeeded. CONCLUSIONS: Gynecologic screening, contraceptive options, and cycle control counseling must occur before deployments. Specialty gynecologic care and medications for cycle control should be readily accessible to all female soldiers during deployments.
AB - OBJECTIVE: To assess women's perceptions of health care delivery in Operation Iraqi Freedom. METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire was distributed through command channels to female soldiers stationed in camps receiving echelon I or II care. Questions covered predeployment screening, contraceptive method availability and side effects, accessibility of gynecologic care, field hygiene counseling, and smoking status. RESULTS: Two hundred fifty-one (91%) of 275 surveys were returned. Twenty-two percent of respondents had received no annual gynecologic examination including the Papanicolaou test/cervical cytologic study in the past year. Irregular bleeding was the most common gynecologic side effect. Ortho Evra patches fell off in 58% of cases; 23% of soldiers changed contraceptive methods because of unavailability, 21% experienced gynecologic problems, and 44% could not access gynecologic care. Twenty-six percent received predeployment menstrual hygiene counseling, and 77% attempting cycle control succeeded. CONCLUSIONS: Gynecologic screening, contraceptive options, and cycle control counseling must occur before deployments. Specialty gynecologic care and medications for cycle control should be readily accessible to all female soldiers during deployments.
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U2 - 10.7205/MILMED.171.3.216
DO - 10.7205/MILMED.171.3.216
M3 - Article
C2 - 16602519
AN - SCOPUS:33744502653
SN - 0026-4075
VL - 171
SP - 216
EP - 219
JO - Military medicine
JF - Military medicine
IS - 3
ER -