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Beste LA, Maier MM, Borgerding J, Lowy E, Hauser RG, Van Epps P, Ohl M, Ross D, Chartier M. Testing practices and incidence of chlamydial and gonococcal infection in the Veterans Health Administration, 2009-2019. Clin Infect Dis 2020; 73:e3235-e3243. [PMID: 32975293 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae cases reached a record high in the United States in 2018. Although active duty military servicemembers have high rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea infection, trends in chlamydia and gonorrhea in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system have not been previously described, including among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and young women. METHODS We identified all Veterans in VHA care from 2009-2019. Tests and cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea were defined based on lab results in the electronic health record. Chlamydia and gonorrhea incidence rates were calculated each year by demographic group and HIV status. RESULTS In 2019, testing for chlamydia and gonorrhea occurred in 2.3% of patients, 22.6% of women ages 18-24, and 34.1% of persons with HIV. 2019 incidence of chlamydia and gonorrhea was 100.8 and 56.3 cases per 100,000 VHA users, an increase of 267% and 294%, respectively, since 2009. Veterans aged <34 years accounted for 9.5% of the VHA population but 66.9% of chlamydia and 42.9% of gonorrhea cases. Chlamydia and gonorrhea incidence rates in persons with HIV were 1,432 and 1,687 per 100,000, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of chlamydia and gonorrhea rose dramatically from 2009-2019. Among tested persons, those with HIV had a 15.2-fold higher unadjusted incidence of chlamydia and 34.9-fold higher unadjusted incidence of gonorrhea compared to those without HIV. VHA-wide adherence to chlamydia and gonorrhea testing in high-risk groups merits improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A Beste
- General Medicine Service, VA Puget Sound Health Care System and Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Marissa M Maier
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health and Sciences University, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Joleen Borgerding
- Health Services Research & Development, VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Elliott Lowy
- Health Services Research & Development, VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ronald G Hauser
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Department, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Puja Van Epps
- Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Northeast Ohio Healthcare System, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Michael Ohl
- Center for Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE), Department of Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - David Ross
- Office of Specialty Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, D.C., USA
| | - Maggie Chartier
- Office of Specialty Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, D.C., USA
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Katon JG, Callegari LS, Bossick AS, Fortney J, Gerber MR, Lehavot K, Lynch KE, Ma E, Smith R, Tartaglione E, Gray KE. Association of Depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder with Receipt of Minimally Invasive Hysterectomy for Uterine Fibroids: Findings from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Womens Health Issues 2020; 30:359-365. [DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2020.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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5
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Wadsworth P, Krahe JAE, Allen E. Occupational Well-Being in Sexual Assault Victims and Survivors. J Holist Nurs 2019; 38:170-185. [PMID: 31347435 DOI: 10.1177/0898010119863537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: While researchers have established that sexual assault may adversely affect successful employment and academic achievement, little is known about the barriers and facilitators of occupational well-being from the perspective of sexual assault survivors. This study assessed the barriers and facilitators of occupational well-being. Design: Constructivist grounded theory. Method: Digitally recorded, semistructured interviews were used to collect data. Data were collected from 22 adult female sexual assault survivors. Analysis consisted of coding, creation of data matrices, and within and across case analysis. Findings: Theoretical saturation was achieved after interviews with 22 participants. Barriers to occupational well-being were mental health symptoms and diagnoses, substance abuse, inflexible attendance policies, and workplace bullying. Facilitators to occupational well-being were personal coping strategies, and organizational and social support. Conclusions: Sexual assault has significant effects on the occupational well-being of women. The work or academic environment can exacerbate the harms of sexual assault or facilitate healing in sexual assault survivors. To facilitate the occupational well-being of sexual assault survivors, workplaces and academic institutions can adopt a trauma-informed approach, create policies that allow for time off to deal with sequela of sexual assault, implement anti-bullying programs, and make resources for gendered violence available.
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6
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Katon JG, Zephyrin L, Meoli A, Hulugalle A, Bosch J, Callegari L, Galvan IV, Gray KE, Haeger KO, Hoffmire C, Levis S, Ma EW, Mccabe JE, Nillni YI, Pineles SL, Reddy SM, Savitz DA, Shaw JG, Patton EW. Reproductive Health of Women Veterans: A Systematic Review of the Literature from 2008 to 2017. Semin Reprod Med 2019; 36:315-322. [PMID: 31003246 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1678750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The literature on the reproductive health and healthcare of women Veterans has increased dramatically, though there are important gaps. This article aims to synthesize recent literature on reproductive health and healthcare of women Veterans. We updated a literature search to identify manuscripts published between 2008 and July 1, 2017. We excluded studies that were not original research, only included active-duty women, or had few women Veterans in their sample. Manuscripts were reviewed using a standardized abstraction form. We identified 52 manuscripts. Nearly half (48%) of the new manuscripts addressed contraception and preconception care (n = 15) or pregnancy (n = 10). The pregnancy and family planning literature showed that (1) contraceptive use and unintended pregnancy among women Veterans using VA healthcare is similar to that of the general population; (2) demand for VA maternity care is increasing; and (3) women Veterans using VA maternity care are a high-risk population for adverse pregnancy outcomes. A recurrent finding across topics was that history of lifetime sexual assault and mental health conditions were highly prevalent among women Veterans and associated with a wide variety of adverse reproductive health outcomes across the life course. The literature on women Veterans' reproductive health is rapidly expanding, but remains largely observational. Knowledge gaps persist in the areas of sexually transmitted infections, infertility, and menopause.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodie G Katon
- US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Seattle, Washington.,Department of Health Services, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington
| | - Laurie Zephyrin
- VA Office of Patient Care Services, Women's Health Services, Washington, District of Columbia.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, VA Harbor Medical Center, New York City, New York.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Anne Meoli
- VHA, SimLEARN National Simulation Center, Orlando, Florida
| | - Avanthi Hulugalle
- New York University College of Global Public Health, New York City, New York
| | - Jeane Bosch
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California
| | - Lisa Callegari
- US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Seattle, Washington.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington
| | - Ileana V Galvan
- VA Office of Patient Care Services, Women's Health Services, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Kristen E Gray
- US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Seattle, Washington.,Department of Health Services, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, Washington
| | - Kristin O Haeger
- VA Office of Patient Care Services, Women's Health Services, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Claire Hoffmire
- Rocky Mountain MIRECC for Suicide Prevention, VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System, Denver, Colorado.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Silvina Levis
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, Florida
| | - Erica W Ma
- US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System, Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, Seattle, Washington
| | | | - Yael I Nillni
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Suzanne L Pineles
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Shivani M Reddy
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts.,Center for Advanced Methods Development, RTI International, Waltham, Massachusetts
| | - David A Savitz
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
| | - Jonathan G Shaw
- Division of Primary Care and Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California.,Center for Innovation to Implementation, VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, California
| | - Elizabeth W Patton
- Division of Gynecology, Department of Surgery, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
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