Exploring Contraceptive Care and Access Experiences of Veterans

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Access to preferred contraceptive care is crucial for individual well-being.
• Research on contraceptive care access is extensive for civilians but limited for veterans.
• Existing evidence highlights significant gaps in veterans' contraceptive knowledge, use, and experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate U.S. veterans' access to, knowledge of, and use of contraception and contraceptive care.
• To identify disparities in contraceptive access and choice among reproductive-age veterans.
• To understand how factors like sex and care setting influence contraceptive care gaps for veterans.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a nationally representative survey of male and female veterans.
• Supplemented survey data with in-depth interviews.
• Examined contraceptive care access within and outside the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system.

Main Results:

• Veterans' ability to use preferred contraception is inconsistent.
• Quality of counseling, provider availability, and systemic disparities impact contraceptive access.
• Significant gaps exist in veterans' knowledge of and access to contraceptive care.

Conclusions:

• Addressing gaps in contraceptive knowledge, access, and care is essential for veteran men and women.
• Recommendations are provided for care providers and veteran-serving organizations.
• Improving contraceptive care is vital for veteran health and well-being.