Samuel H Nyarko, Lucy T Greenberg, Scott A Lorch, Jeannette Rogowski, Jeffrey S Buzas, Ciaran S Phibbs, George R Saade, Molly Passarella, Nansi S Boghossian
{"title":"Contribution of Maternal Age to Increasing Severe Maternal Morbidity During Birth and Up to 1 Year Postpartum.","authors":"Samuel H Nyarko, Lucy T Greenberg, Scott A Lorch, Jeannette Rogowski, Jeffrey S Buzas, Ciaran S Phibbs, George R Saade, Molly Passarella, Nansi S Boghossian","doi":"10.1016/j.whi.2025.08.005","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2025.08.005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>We examined whether increasing severe maternal morbidity (SMM) rates are driven by changes in maternal age distribution or age-specific SMM rates.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In a retrospective cohort study across three states, we analyzed data from two time points (2008-2009 to 2019-2020). We used Kitagawa decomposition analysis to determine the contributions of changes in maternal age distribution and age-specific SMM rates to SMM rates both with and without transfusion during birth and up to 1 year postpartum, stratified by race/ethnicity. We examined the following racial/ethnic groups: non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Between 2008-2009 and 2019-2020, SMM and non-transfusion SMM rates increased from 213.6 to 260.5 and from 109.6 to 154.8 per 10,000 births, respectively. Across all racial and ethnic groups, the proportion of younger birthing individuals (<25 years) decreased and the proportion of older individuals (≥30 years) increased. The decomposition analysis showed that increases in SMM and non-transfusion SMM were primarily due to increases in age-specific SMM rates (100.0% and 94.6%, respectively), particularly among younger birthing individuals. Changes in maternal age distribution had a minimal overall contribution. However, when stratified by race/ethnicity, changes in maternal age distribution had a greater contribution to SMM (28.9%) and non-transfusion SMM (22.7%) rates among non-Hispanic Black individuals, with little to no contribution observed in the other groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The increasing rates of birth-related and postpartum SMM rates stem from increasing rates of SMM in every age group rather than shifts in maternal age distribution.</p>","PeriodicalId":48039,"journal":{"name":"Womens Health Issues","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145208049","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Social Media Descriptions of Pain and Pain Management During Intrauterine Device Insertion: \"Women's Pain is Not Taken Seriously\".","authors":"Gabrielle Schweitzer, Azza Elrashid, Lakshmi Sundaresan, Kathleen Mehari, Lauren Owens, Lauren D Oshman","doi":"10.1016/j.whi.2025.08.002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2025.08.002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are a highly effective and safe method of contraception, yet IUD insertion can be painful. Social media is a trusted source of health information for reproductive-age adults and accounts of painful and traumatic insertion are prevalent on social media. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of social media users with pain, trauma, and pain management during IUD insertion.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We identified common IUD-related hashtags or search terms on TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter; identified the top posts (defined as the posts at the top of each search) and their comments for each hashtag or search term on each platform; performed directed qualitative content analysis; and summarized code frequency under each theme with descriptive statistics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Analysis of a total of 214 total posts and comments identified three major themes describing user experiences: 1) Severe pain experiences were more common than tolerable or mild experiences, 2) some participants shared traumatic and negative emotional responses, and 3) negative or dismissive health care professional responses to painful IUD insertion were more frequent than positive and supportive responses.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Health care professionals should be aware of common narratives on social media and provide trauma-informed pain management to ensure that all patients have appropriate counseling for IUDs.</p>","PeriodicalId":48039,"journal":{"name":"Womens Health Issues","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145132223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Danielle M Panelli, Caitlin S Chan, Jonathan G Shaw, Megha Shankar, Rachel Kimerling, Susan M Frayne, Tiffany C Herrero, Deirdre J Lyell, Ciaran S Phibbs
{"title":"Corrigendum to: An Exploratory Analysis of Factors Associated With Spontaneous Preterm Birth Among Pregnant Veterans With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder [Women's Health Issues 33 (2023) 191-198].","authors":"Danielle M Panelli, Caitlin S Chan, Jonathan G Shaw, Megha Shankar, Rachel Kimerling, Susan M Frayne, Tiffany C Herrero, Deirdre J Lyell, Ciaran S Phibbs","doi":"10.1016/j.whi.2025.09.003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2025.09.003","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48039,"journal":{"name":"Womens Health Issues","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145092496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kristin M Mattocks, Valerie Marteeny, Lorrie Walker, Karen M Goldstein, Stephanie Condon-Perry, Kathryn Berrien, Danielle Weber, Lisa L Shenette, Kate Wallace, Michaela A Ayisi, Akila Sanjay, Aimee Kroll-Desrosiers
{"title":"Examining Veterans', Doulas', and VA Maternity Care Coordinators' Perceptions and Experiences With a Community-based Doula Pilot Program.","authors":"Kristin M Mattocks, Valerie Marteeny, Lorrie Walker, Karen M Goldstein, Stephanie Condon-Perry, Kathryn Berrien, Danielle Weber, Lisa L Shenette, Kate Wallace, Michaela A Ayisi, Akila Sanjay, Aimee Kroll-Desrosiers","doi":"10.1016/j.whi.2025.08.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2025.08.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Racial disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality are well-documented and remain a pressing public health problem in the United States. Racial disparities in maternal health have also been noted among veterans receiving community-based maternity care benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Previous studies of doula care among minoritized racial groups have indicated lower rates of preterm and cesarean births, more positive feelings about childbirth experiences, and lower admissions to the neonatal intensive care unit. To assess whether doula care might be beneficial for veterans enrolled in VA care, we launched a small pilot study at two VA medical centers working in conjunction with community-based doula agencies. Therefore, the overarching objective of this study was to assess veterans', doulas', and VA maternity care coordinators' (MCC) perceptions and experiences with a community-based doula program aimed at improving maternal outcomes.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Telephone or video interviews were conducted with veterans, doulas, and VA MCCs who had participated in the doula care program. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using content analysis techniques. Major themes and representative quotes were derived from the analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-eight veterans, seven doulas, and two VA MCCs enrolled in the doula study and participated in interviews. Four major themes were identified: 1) veterans' previous negative birth experiences promoted desire for doula care, 2) veterans had positive pregnancy experiences with doula care, 3) doulas empowered veterans to advocate for themselves during pregnancy, and 4) VA MCCs welcomed doula partnerships.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Veterans expressed high levels of satisfaction with the doula care program. VA MCCs noted that a doula care program was an important addition to the existing VA MCC program and allowed MCCs to feel that they had an additional partner in caring for pregnant veterans.</p>","PeriodicalId":48039,"journal":{"name":"Womens Health Issues","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145058780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abigael Olson, Lindsay Fuzzell, Naomi C Brownstein, Holly B Fontenot, Alexandra Michel, Paige Lake, Susan T Vadaparampil, Rebecca B Perkins
{"title":"Factors Associated With Guideline-Concordant Cervical Cancer Screening Exit: A Mixed Methods Study.","authors":"Abigael Olson, Lindsay Fuzzell, Naomi C Brownstein, Holly B Fontenot, Alexandra Michel, Paige Lake, Susan T Vadaparampil, Rebecca B Perkins","doi":"10.1016/j.whi.2025.07.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2025.07.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>More than 20% of cervical cancers are diagnosed in women older than 65 years. Guidelines recommend screening exit at age 65 for average-risk patients only if certain criteria are met, yet most women aged 64-66 years in the United States are inadequately screened. In this mixed methods study, we explored clinician knowledge of exit criteria.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We explored factors associated with clinician-reported guideline-concordant screening exit, as well as facilitators and barriers to appropriate cervical cancer screening exit. Guideline concordance required that clinicians be aware that patients can exit screening if they have received a hysterectomy for benign reasons or had either three consecutive negative Pap tests or two consecutive negative human papilloma virus tests-and that they should not exit screening if they have a history of precancer treatment in the prior 25 years.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In 2021, a national sample of 1,251 clinicians completed surveys; a subset (n = 55) completed qualitative interviews. Although most (>70%) correctly identified criteria related to hysterectomy and prior negative screening requirements, only 35% of participants (n = 434) responded correctly to all screening exit items. In logistic regression models, male clinicians, OB/GYNs, and those in academic or hospital-based practices were more likely to respond correctly. Interview responses indicated variable understanding of the nuances of exit criteria. Those who continued screening patients past age 65 cited concerns related to new sexual partners and missing cancers. Several providers noted difficulty accessing adequate records.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Clinicians who routinely perform cervical cancer screening have knowledge gaps around exit criteria and also describe difficulty applying the criteria in practice. As fewer women undergo hysterectomy and life expectancy increases, the number of individuals older than 65 at risk for cervical cancer will continue to rise. Adjusting guidelines to decrease the complexity of exit criteria should be considered.</p>","PeriodicalId":48039,"journal":{"name":"Womens Health Issues","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145030837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Diagnostic Evaluation for Abnormal Uterine Bleeding at Emergency Departments in the United States.","authors":"Wanyi Huang, Xiaomei Ma, Mitchell Clark, Xiao Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.whi.2025.07.008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2025.07.008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We aimed to examine patterns of diagnostic evaluations for abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) in a national sample of emergency department (ED) visits and identify potential racial and ethnic differences.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Using the 2014-2021 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data, we identified 1,049 (unweighted; 7,900,653 weighted) women age ≥18 years without previous cancer diagnosis who visited EDs for non-pregnancy-related AUB. The primary outcomes were whether an ultrasound was provided/ordered and whether referral/follow-up consultation was recommended. The association of race and ethnicity with these outcome measures was examined using multivariable logistic regressions adjusting for other patient/provider characteristics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Multivariable regression analysis showed that non-Hispanic Black patients were less likely than non-Hispanic white patients to receive or have an ultrasound ordered (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = .58, 95% confidence interval [CI] [.36, .92]). Non-Hispanic Black patients also had a lower likelihood of receiving referral or recommendation for follow-up consultation, compared with non-Hispanic white patients (aOR = .54, 95% CI [.31, .94]). Hispanic patients did not differ significantly from non-Hispanic white patients in these measures. Perimenopausal age (45-54 years) and location in a non-metropolitan area were associated with a lower likelihood of having an ultrasound performed/ordered or a referral/follow-up consultation recommended. Involvement of a consulting physician at the ED visit increased the likelihood of having an ultrasound performed/ordered while reducing the likelihood of referral/recommendation for follow-up consultation.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Among women presenting with AUB at EDs, diagnostic evaluation varied by race, suggesting a need to improve equity in care.</p>","PeriodicalId":48039,"journal":{"name":"Womens Health Issues","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144974318","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Katherine M Mahoney, Licia Bravo, Arden McAllister, Kacie Bogar, Sean Hennessey, Courtney A Schreiber, Alice Abernathy
{"title":"Reproductive Health Services in Abortion-Providing Clinics: A Scoping Review of Provision and Policy Contexts.","authors":"Katherine M Mahoney, Licia Bravo, Arden McAllister, Kacie Bogar, Sean Hennessey, Courtney A Schreiber, Alice Abernathy","doi":"10.1016/j.whi.2025.07.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2025.07.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Abortion-providing clinics often offer preventive reproductive health services. We conducted a scoping review to characterize provision of contraceptive care, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and/or treatment, and cervical cancer prevention and/or screening at U.S. abortion-providing clinics and to highlight policy drivers of variation in access to and provision of these services at the time of abortion by abortion-providing clinics.</p><p><strong>Data sources: </strong>Researchers screened articles and extracted data from PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and CINAHL from inception through March 2023.</p><p><strong>Methods of study selection: </strong>Articles were eligible for review if they related contraceptive care, STI testing and/or treatment, or cervical cancer prevention and/or screening to abortion access, demand, or provision. Within these articles, we closely examined any discussion of health policy, conceptualized broadly based on existing literature describing policy associations with reproductive health care to identify policy drivers of reproductive health care provision in abortion care settings.</p><p><strong>Tabulation, integration, and results: </strong>A total of 5,359 articles were screened; 74 were included in the review. Sixty-five were about contraceptive care, seven on STI testing and/or treatment and two on cervical cancer prevention and/or screening. Drivers of variation in provision of preventive reproductive health services included insurance and billing policies and regulatory requirements on abortion-providing facilities and clinicians. Existing data on the association between policies that restrict or protect abortion access and provision of preventive health services by abortion-providing clinics on a national scale are limited.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Abortion-providing clinics are an access point for reproductive health services. Legislative trends to constrain abortion access may have spillover effects on provision of preventive reproductive health care such as contraceptive care, STI testing and/or treatment, and cervical cancer prevention and/or screening.</p>","PeriodicalId":48039,"journal":{"name":"Womens Health Issues","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144974309","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jessica K Friedman, Amanda M Johnson, Erica V Tartaglione, Jacob R Eleazer, Susan M Frayne, Kristin O Haeger, Alexandra K R Schule, Claudine Offer, Ciaran S Phibbs, Danielle Rose, Fay Saechao, Megha Shankar, Jonathan G Shaw, Elizabeth M Yano, Alicia Y Christy, Jodie G Katon
{"title":"Changes in Reproductive and Sexual Health Diagnoses of Women Veterans Using Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Between FY2010 and FY2018.","authors":"Jessica K Friedman, Amanda M Johnson, Erica V Tartaglione, Jacob R Eleazer, Susan M Frayne, Kristin O Haeger, Alexandra K R Schule, Claudine Offer, Ciaran S Phibbs, Danielle Rose, Fay Saechao, Megha Shankar, Jonathan G Shaw, Elizabeth M Yano, Alicia Y Christy, Jodie G Katon","doi":"10.1016/j.whi.2025.07.004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2025.07.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Women veterans are the fastest growing group of new Veterans Health Administration (VA) users with more than half a million using VA care in 2018. VA has implemented policies and programs to meet the reproductive and sexual health (RSH) needs of women veterans who increasingly rely on VA to provide comprehensive care.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>We aimed to describe changes in the prevalence of RSH diagnosis categories among women veterans using VA care in fiscal year (FY) 2010 and FY2018.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Repeated cross-sectional VA administrative data were used to identify women veterans using VA care in FY2010 and FY2018. RSH diagnosis categories were identified from International Classification of Diseases (ICD), Ninth (FY2010) and 10th (FY2018) revision codes for all VA-covered health care encounters. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were used to adjust for age and compare the rates of 15 reproductive health diagnoses in FY2010 and FY2018.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Women veterans using VA for RSH care increased by 61% between FY2010 (n = 317,122) and FY2018 (n = 520,179). Prevalence of common RSH diagnoses remained consistent across fiscal years, including urinary conditions (SIR = 1.02; 95% CI [1.02, 1.03]) and reproductive organ conditions (SIR = .96; 95% CI [.95, .97]). Conversely, there were larger than expected increases in diagnoses of female infertility (SIR = 1.71; 95% CI [1.70, 1.76]) and sexual dysfunction (SIR = 1.51; 95% CI [1.47, 1.54]).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>As VA continues to build capacity to provide RSH care to women veterans, understanding changing needs is important for evaluating the impact of programs and policies designed to improve access to care.</p>","PeriodicalId":48039,"journal":{"name":"Womens Health Issues","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144974346","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Experiences and Perspectives of Sexual and Reproductive Health Among Women in Recovery From Opioid Use Disorder.","authors":"Nicole M Mattson, Aleigha Barry, Jessica Zemlak","doi":"10.1016/j.whi.2025.07.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.whi.2025.07.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Women in recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD) have unmet sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs resulting in health disparities such as unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections/HIV infection compared with women without OUD. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of co-occurring multiple social-ecologic influences (individual, interpersonal, community, society) on SRH among women in recovery from OUD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Purposive sampling was used to recruit cis-gender women aged 18-49 who self-identify as being in recovery from OUD and speak English. We conducted one 45- to 60-minute audio-recorded semistructured telephone interview with each participant.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In our sample (N = 22), 59% identified as white/Caucasian and the mean age was 34.7 years (SD = 6.8). We identified themes related to SRH across social-ecological levels. Holistic Definition of SRH: Participants described an evolution of their knowledge and behaviors related to SRH during recovery to include preventive health, emotional well-being, and healthy relationships. Reevaluation of Relationships: Participants described undergoing a critical appraisal of their relationships and identified relationships that strengthened or threatened their recovery. Built and Lived Community: Participants described a rebuilding and restructuring of both social and physical domains of community. Shadow of Stigma: Participants described experiencing stigmatizing behaviors related to the interconnectedness of their childbearing capacity, SRH, and recovery.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Women's expansive descriptions of SRH in recovery extend beyond access to contraception and sexually transmitted infection/HIV screening. Interventions focused on SRH must account for the complex multilevel influences on the health of women in recovery from OUD.</p>","PeriodicalId":48039,"journal":{"name":"Womens Health Issues","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144884060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Caitlin Russell, Emily Balog, Anne Teitelman, Rosemary Polomano
{"title":"A Qualitative Analysis of the Lived Experience of Active-Duty Servicewomen Receiving Perinatal Care Within the Military Health System.","authors":"Caitlin Russell, Emily Balog, Anne Teitelman, Rosemary Polomano","doi":"10.1016/j.whi.2025.07.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2025.07.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>We explored the lived experiences of active-duty servicewomen (ADSW) accessing and receiving care during the perinatal period (from discovery of pregnancy to 1 year postpartum) within the Military Health System.</p><p><strong>Study design: </strong>Using qualitative methods, we conducted semi-structured interviews between September 2022 and February 2023 with 23 ADSW participants who were pregnant or within their first year postpartum. Data were analyzed using inductive coding and thematic analysis techniques.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Participants reported bureaucratic hurdles and long wait times for accessing care, too little choice in providers, and inadequate coordination between civilian and military care providers. Those who experienced perinatal complications perceived that the military health system did not adequately address their concerns. Some participants described disjointed and depersonalized perinatal care, whereas others reported positive experiences with their providers.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Opportunities exist for the Military Health System to improve the perinatal care experience by increasing access to perinatal care, providing more autonomy to ADSW in choosing providers and birth settings, and developing policies and procedures to improve inter-specialty communication.</p>","PeriodicalId":48039,"journal":{"name":"Womens Health Issues","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144859780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}