Short VL, Hand DJ, Pyfer L, Steiger H, Gannon M, Jaffe G, Abatemarco DJ. Health Status and Preventive Health Services Among Reproductive-Aged Women in Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder.
Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle) 2022;
3:998-1005. [PMID:
36636314 PMCID:
PMC9811839 DOI:
10.1089/whr.2022.0057]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Objective
To assess the utilization of preventive health services and the prevalence of chronic health conditions among a cohort of women in treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD).
Methods
Ninety-seven women who were receiving treatment for OUD from a single urban treatment program completed a self-administered anonymous online questionnaire that asked about demographics, health, receipt of preventive health services, and utilization of health care. Descriptive statistics were used to describe data.
Results
More than one-third of respondents reported that their health was fair or poor, whereas one-quarter were very concerned with their health. Most participants (59%) reported at least one chronic health condition; nearly 1 in 5 reported two or more conditions. Less than half of respondents had received a routine medical examination in the past year. Vaccine uptake was low; 56% received the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine and 36% received the annual influenza vaccine.
Conclusions
Women in treatment for OUD could benefit from enhanced health care to address the high rates of chronic diseases and risk factors and underutilization of recommended preventive health services. Interventions and models of care that aim to enhance utilization of such services, and ultimately improve the health of this vulnerable population, may be worth exploring.
Collapse