Citation

Coyle BS, Wolan DL, Van Horn AS. Mil. Med. 1996; 161(10): 588-593.

Affiliation

Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1996, Association of Military Surgeons of the United States)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8918119

Abstract

A survey to determine the prevalence of physical and sexual abuse experiences, during and outside of military service, was conducted among 828 women veterans at the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Data collection was through anonymous, mailed questionnaire. Three questions were used to elicit histories of physical abuse, sexual abuse, and rape. From the survey, 429 completed forms (52%) were returned. Most of the veterans had at least some college education and about 50% served 4 or more years on active duty. About 68% of the respondents reported at least one form of victimization, while 27% reported to have undergone all three forms, of which sexual abuse was the most common, followed by physical abuse and then rape. It was in adulthood that all three forms of abuse took place with one-third of the women reporting victimization during active duty. However, 50% of the women veterans reporting physical abuse, 44% reporting sexual abuse, and 52% reporting rape were never victimized during their military careers. Single women and divorced women were more likely to report victimization. In conclusion, physical and sexually abused veteran women were the ones more likely seeking care at the center.

Language: en