Study Protocol: Southern Women Veterans’ Health Study

Abstract

Introduction: Despite the large numbers of women who served during the 1990–1991 Gulf War or post 9/11, many studies of the health of U.S. veterans have been limited to men or have not included adequate numbers of women veterans for separate analyses. As the number of women in the military increases particularly in the Southern U.S., there is a pressing need for additional health research involving women veterans including women who reside in rural areas and small towns and cities. Studies are also needed of women who do or do not receive VA health care services. Objectives: The objectives of this study are: 1) To obtain information about the physical and mental health of women who served in the U.S. military during various eras (e.g., Vietnam War, 1991 Gulf War, and post 9/11) and who currently reside in Georgia, 2) To establish a cohort of women veterans who complete a baseline postal questionnaire and are then followed longitudinally and invited to participate in a follow-up survey in 4 to 5 years, and 3) To establish a cohort of women veterans who can be invited to participate in IRB-approved clinical research studies that include subsets of women surveyed as part of the Southern Women Veteran’s Health Study. Methods: This study consists of a postal survey of up to 1,000 women veterans in Georgia and a repeat survey in 4 to 5 years to obtain longitudinal data. The follow-up survey in 4 to 5 years will allow for longitudinal changes in health to be assessed. Conclusion: The survey will provide a comprehensive picture of women veteran’s health across the lifespan. This will address the need for a comprehensive surveillance of health outcomes of women veterans with diverse residence (rural areas, larger cities in the southern U.S.) and VA health care service utilization. A broad range of women’s health issues will be addressed including not only reproductive outcomes but also chronic health outcomes in endocrine, cardiac, neurological, immunological and mental health systems that may differ from their male counterparts. Through its longitudinal design, the study will also provide important information about changes in physical and mental health as women veterans advance in age.