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Shapiro MO, Kroll-Desrosiers A, Mattocks KM. Understanding the Mental Health Impact of Previous Pregnancy Loss Among Currently Pregnant Veterans. Womens Health Issues 2023; 33:422-427. [PMID: 37100719 DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2023.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnancy loss, including miscarriage and stillbirth, is common and associated with an increased risk for prenatal and postnatal depression, as well as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Racial disparities have been observed in pregnancy loss, with Black women having higher rates of pregnancy loss and postnatal depression. However, no research to date has examined the mental health and demographic correlates of pregnancy loss within a veteran population. METHOD The current study examined associations between pregnancy loss and mental health and demographic correlates among 1,324 pregnant veterans, of which 368 had a history of at least one stillbirth and/or miscarriage. RESULTS Veterans with a history of pregnancy loss, compared with those without, were more likely to have a diagnosis of anxiety (52.7% vs. 46.4%, p = .04), depression (62.5% vs. 50.8%, p = .0001), or PTSD (46.5% vs. 37.6%, p = .003); were more likely to report receiving mental health care during pregnancy (23.1% vs. 16.8%, p = .01); and were more likely to have experienced military sexual trauma (harassment: 56.5% vs. 49.9%, p = .04; rape: 38.9% vs. 29.3%, p = .0004). Results also indicated that Black veterans were more likely to report a history of pregnancy loss (32.1% vs. 25.3%, p = .01). Further, Black veterans were more likely to experience clinically meaningful prenatal depression symptoms (adjusted odds ratio: 1.90; 95% confidence interval: 1.42-2.54) after accounting for past loss and age in logistic regression models. DISCUSSION Taken together, findings from the present investigation corroborate previous research highlighting the deleterious impact of pregnancy loss and extend prior work by examining these associations among a diverse sample of pregnant veterans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary O Shapiro
- Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, New Orleans, Louisiana; South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.
| | - Aimee Kroll-Desrosiers
- VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System, Leeds, Massachusetts; Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Kristin M Mattocks
- VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System, Leeds, Massachusetts; Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
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Katon JG, Bossick AS, Tartaglione EV, Enquobahrie DA, Haeger KO, Johnson AM, Ma EW, Savitz D, Shaw JG, Todd-Stenberg J, Yano EM, Washington DL, Christy AY. Assessing Racial Disparities in Access, Use, and Outcomes for Pregnant and Postpartum Veterans and Their Infants in Veterans Health Administration. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2023; 32:757-766. [PMID: 37186805 DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2022.0507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: Limited population-based data examines racial disparities among pregnant and postpartum Veterans. Our objective was to determine whether Black/white racial disparities in health care access, use, and Veteran and infant outcomes are present among pregnant and postpartum Veterans and their infants using Veterans Health Administration (VA) care. Methods: The VA National Veteran Pregnancy and Maternity Care Survey included all Veterans with a VA paid live birth between June 2018 and December 2019. Participants could complete the survey online or by telephone. The independent variable was self-reported race. Outcomes included timely initiation of prenatal care, perceived access to timely prenatal care, attendance at a postpartum check-up, receipt of needed mental health care, cesarean section, postpartum rehospitalization, low birthweight, preterm birth, admission to a neonatal intensive care unit, and breastfeeding. Nonresponse weighted general linear models with a log-link were used to examine associations of race with outcomes. Cox regression was used to examine the association of race with duration of breastfeeding. Models adjusted for age, ethnicity, urban versus rural residence, and parity. Results: The analytic sample consisted of 1,220 Veterans (Black n = 916; white n = 304) representing 3,439 weighted responses (Black n = 1,027; white n = 2,412). No racial disparities were detected for health care access or use. Black Veterans were more likely than white Veterans to have a postpartum rehospitalization (RR 1.67, 95% CI: 1.04-2.68) and a low-birthweight infant (RR 1.67, 95% CI: 1.20-2.33). Conclusion: While no racial disparities were detected for health care access and use, we identified disparities in postpartum rehospitalization and low birthweight, underscoring that access is not sufficient for ensuring health equity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jodie G Katon
- Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D), Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Andrew S Bossick
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Henry Ford Healthcare System, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Erica V Tartaglione
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Healthcare System, Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, HSR&D, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Kristin O Haeger
- Office of Women's Health, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Amanda M Johnson
- Office of Women's Health, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Erica W Ma
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Healthcare System, Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, HSR&D, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - David Savitz
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Jonathan G Shaw
- VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, Palo Alto, California, USA
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Jeffery Todd-Stenberg
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Healthcare System, Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, HSR&D, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Yano
- Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D), Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Jonathan and Karen Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Donna L Washington
- Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D), Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation, and Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine & Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Alicia Y Christy
- Office of Women's Health, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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Anderson EH, Morrow C, Mattocks KM, Shivakumar G. Perinatal Symptoms and Treatment Engagement in Female Veterans. Mil Med 2023; 188:e468-e472. [PMID: 34244790 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usab278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Women veterans using Veterans Health Care Administration maternity benefits have a high prevalence of mental health disorders, including depression, PTSD, and anxiety. Additionally, women with psychiatric histories often experience a relapse or worsening of symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum. Adequate perinatal mental healthcare engagement is critical to optimizing outcomes for mother and child. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study evaluated psychiatric symptom severity and predictors of women veteran's mental health treatment engagement during pregnancy and postpartum at the VA North Texas Health Care System. Seventy women using Veterans Health Administration were assessed longitudinally via chart review and interviews (including the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) during pregnancy and postpartum. A Friedman test was used to evaluate the change in symptom severity during (1) the 6 months before pregnancy, (2) pregnancy, and (3) postpartum. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to determine predictors of attending outpatient mental health appointments. Potential predictors examined included sociodemographic factors, symptoms of depression, history of military sexual assault, presence of a pre-pregnancy psychiatric diagnosis, and attendance of mental health appointments before pregnancy. RESULTS Approximately 40% of participants demonstrated at least mild psychiatric symptoms before pregnancy, and symptom severity did not significantly change across the perinatal period (pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, and postpartum) X2 (2, n = 70) = 3.56, P = .17. Depressive symptoms during the 2nd or 3rd trimester were a significant predictor for attendance of mental health appointments during both pregnancy (OR = 1.18, 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.34) and postpartum (OR = 1.18, 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.36). An active psychiatric diagnosis during the 6 months before pregnancy was also a significant predictor of attendance following delivery (OR = 14.63, 95% CI, 1.55 to 138.51). CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that women with prior histories of mental health conditions will continue to be symptomatic, and this is a good predictor of mental health treatment engagement during the perinatal period.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carolyn Morrow
- Mental Health, VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, TX 75216, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Kristin M Mattocks
- VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System, Leeds, MA 01053, USA
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Geetha Shivakumar
- Mental Health, VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, TX 75216, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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Katon JG, Rodriguez A, Yano EM, Johnson AM, Frayne SM, Hamilton AB, Miller LJ, Williams K, Zephyrin L, Patton EW. Research Priorities to Support Women Veterans' Reproductive Health and Health Care Within a Learning Health Care System. Womens Health Issues 2023; 33:215-221. [PMID: 36702724 DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2022.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jodie G Katon
- VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California
| | - Adriana Rodriguez
- VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California
| | - Elizabeth M Yano
- VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California; Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California; Department of Health Policy and Management, Jonathan and Karen Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Amanda M Johnson
- Office of Women's Health, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Susan M Frayne
- VA HSR&D Center for Innovation to Implementation (Ci2i), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California; Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Alison B Hamilton
- VA HSR&D Center for the Study of Healthcare Innovation, Implementation & Policy, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California; Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Laura J Miller
- Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Women's Mental Health, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, District of Columbia; Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, Illinois
| | | | | | - 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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Timeliness and Adequacy of Prenatal Care Among Department of Veterans Affairs-Enrolled Veterans: The First Step May Be the Biggest Hurdle. Womens Health Issues 2022; 32:411-417. [PMID: 35074265 DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2021.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Little is known about access to and use of prenatal care by veterans using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) maternity benefits. We compared the timeliness and adequacy of prenatal care by veteran status and payor. STUDY DESIGN We used VA clinical and admistrative data linked with California vital statistics patient discharge data to identify all births to VA-enrolled veterans and non-veterans between 2000 and 2012. Births were categorized based on veteran status and payor (non-veterans with Medicaid, non-veterans with private insurance, VA-enrolled veterans using VA maternity care benefits, and VA-enrolled veterans with other payor). Outcomes were timeliness of prenatal care (initiation before the end of the first trimester) and adequacy of prenatal care as measured by the Kotelchuck Index (inadequate, intermediate, adequate). Covariates included demographic, health, and pregnancy characteristics. We used generalized linear models and multinomial logistic regression to analyze the association of veteran status and payor with timeliness of prenatal care and adequacy of prenatal care, respectively. RESULTS We identified 6,196,432 births among VA-enrolled veterans (n = 17,495) and non-veterans (n = 6,178,937). Non-veterans using Medicaid had the lowest percentage of timely prenatal care (78.1%; n = 2,240,326), followed by VA-enrolled veterans using VA maternity care benefits (82.8%; n = 1,248). VA-enrolled veterans using VA maternity care benefits were the most likely to receive adequate prenatal care (92.0%; n = 1,365). Results remained consistent after adjustment. CONCLUSIONS This study provides key baseline data regarding access to and use of prenatal care by veterans using VA maternity benefits. Longitudinal studies including more recent data are needed to understand the impact of changing VA policy.
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Bull C, Ellwood D, Toohill J, Rigney A, Callander EJ. Quantifying the differences in birth outcomes and out-of-pocket costs between Australian Defence Force servicewomen and civilian women: A data linkage study. Women Birth 2021; 35:e432-e438. [PMID: 34802938 DOI: 10.1016/j.wombi.2021.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Servicewomen in Defence Forces the world over are constrained in their health service use by defence healthcare policy. These policies govern a woman's ability to choose who she receives maternity care from and where. The aim of this study was to compare Australian Defence Force (ADF) servicewomen and children's birth outcomes, health service use, and out-of-pocket costs to those of civilian women and children. METHODS Retrospective cohort study using linked administrative data for women giving birth between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2018 in Queensland, Australia (n = 365,138 births). Women serving in the ADF at the time of birth were identified as having their care funded by the Department of Defence (n = 395 births). Propensity score matching was used to identify a mixed public/private civilian sample of women to allow for comparison with servicewomen, controlling for baseline characteristics. Sensitivity analysis was also conducted using a sample of civilian women accessing only private maternity care. FINDINGS Nearly all servicewomen gave birth in the private setting (97.22%). They had significantly greater odds of having a caesarean section (OR 1.71, 95%CI 1.29-2.30) and epidural (OR 1.56, 95%CI 1.11-2.20), and significantly lower odds of having a non-instrumental vaginal birth (OR 0.57, 95%CI 0.43-0.75) compared to women in the matched public/private civilian sample. Compared to civilian children, children born to servicewomen had significantly higher out-of-pocket costs at birth ($275.93 ± 355.82), in the first ($214.98 ± 403.45) and second ($127.75 ± 391.13) years of life, and overall up to two years of age ($618.66 ± 779.67) despite similar health service use. CONCLUSIONS ADF servicewomen have higher rates of obstetric intervention at birth and also pay significantly higher out-of-pocket costs for their children's health service utilisation up to 2-years of age. Given the high rates of obstetric intervention, greater exploration of servicewomen's maternity care experiences and preferences is warranted, as this may necessitate further reform to ADF maternity healthcare policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Bull
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia.
| | - David Ellwood
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, 4222, Australia
| | - Jocelyn Toohill
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, 4222, Australia; Clinical Excellence Queensland, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Queensland, 4006, Australia. https://www.twitter.com/JocelynToohill
| | - Azure Rigney
- Maternity Choices Australia, Springwood, Queensland, 4127, Australia. https://www.twitter.com/AzureRigney
| | - Emily J Callander
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia. https://www.twitter.com/EmilyCallander
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