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Racial and Ethnic Health Care Disparities Among Women in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System: A Systematic Review.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Carter, A; Borrero, S; Wessel, C; Washington, DL; Bean-Mayberry, B; Corbelli, J; VA Women's Health Disparities Research Workgroup,
Published in: Womens Health Issues
2016

BACKGROUND: Women are a rapidly growing segment of patients who seek care in the Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System, yet many questions regarding their health care experiences and outcomes remain unanswered. Racial and ethnic disparities have been well-documented in the general population and among veterans; however, prior disparities research conducted in the VA focused primarily on male veterans. We sought to characterize the findings and gaps in the literature on racial and ethnic disparities among women using the VA. METHODS: We systematically reviewed the literature on racial and ethnic health care disparities exclusively among women using the VA Healthcare System. We included studies that examined health care use, satisfaction, and/or quality, and stratified data by race or ethnicity. RESULTS: Nine studies of the 2,591 searched met our inclusion criteria. The included studies examined contraception provision/access (n = 3), treatment of low bone mass (n = 1), hormone therapy (n = 1), use of mental health or substance abuse-related services (n = 2), trauma exposure and use of various services (n = 1), and satisfaction with primary care (n = 1). Five of nine studies showed evidence of a significant racial or ethnic difference. CONCLUSION: In contrast with the wealth of literature examining disparities both among the male veterans and women in non-VA settings, only nine studies examine racial and ethnic disparities specifically among women in the VA Healthcare System. These results demonstrate that there is an unmet need to further assess health care disparities among female VA users.

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Published In

Womens Health Issues

DOI

EISSN

1878-4321

Publication Date

2016

Volume

26

Issue

4

Start / End Page

401 / 409

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Veterans
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  • United States
  • Racial Groups
  • Public Health
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Hospitals, Veterans
  • Healthcare Disparities
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Carter, A., Borrero, S., Wessel, C., Washington, D. L., Bean-Mayberry, B., Corbelli, J., & VA Women’s Health Disparities Research Workgroup, . (2016). Racial and Ethnic Health Care Disparities Among Women in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System: A Systematic Review. Womens Health Issues, 26(4), 401–409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2016.03.009
Carter, Andrea, Sonya Borrero, Charles Wessel, Donna L. Washington, Bevanne Bean-Mayberry, Jennifer Corbelli, and Jennifer VA Women’s Health Disparities Research Workgroup. “Racial and Ethnic Health Care Disparities Among Women in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System: A Systematic Review.Womens Health Issues 26, no. 4 (2016): 401–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.whi.2016.03.009.
Carter A, Borrero S, Wessel C, Washington DL, Bean-Mayberry B, Corbelli J, et al. Racial and Ethnic Health Care Disparities Among Women in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System: A Systematic Review. Womens Health Issues. 2016;26(4):401–9.
Carter, Andrea, et al. “Racial and Ethnic Health Care Disparities Among Women in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System: A Systematic Review.Womens Health Issues, vol. 26, no. 4, 2016, pp. 401–09. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.whi.2016.03.009.
Carter A, Borrero S, Wessel C, Washington DL, Bean-Mayberry B, Corbelli J, VA Women’s Health Disparities Research Workgroup. Racial and Ethnic Health Care Disparities Among Women in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System: A Systematic Review. Womens Health Issues. 2016;26(4):401–409.
Journal cover image

Published In

Womens Health Issues

DOI

EISSN

1878-4321

Publication Date

2016

Volume

26

Issue

4

Start / End Page

401 / 409

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Veterans
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  • United States
  • Racial Groups
  • Public Health
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Hospitals, Veterans
  • Healthcare Disparities