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Survey of Female Veterans: A Study of the Needs, Attitudes and Experiences of Women Veterans (1985)
Category: Health Care
This survey, "Survey of Female Veterans: A Study of the Needs, Attitudes and Experiences of Women Veterans" along with the GAO report, "Actions Needed to Insure that Female Veterans Have Equal Access to VA Benefits" marked a pivotal 20th century turning point in VA history and their responsibility to care for female veterans as well as male veterans. The survey, conducted by Louis Harris and Associates in February 1984, "provided the Veterans Administration (VA) with detailed information on the social, economic, demographic, and health characteristics of the current population of female veterans, as well as their awareness of, attitudes toward, and usage of VA programs. Findings indicated that the female veteran population was relatively young with over half entering the service since the beginning of the Vietnam era. Very few women veterans (1 percent) completed a 20-year career with military retirement. Veterans of the Vietnam and post-Vietnam eras were more likely than veterans of earlier periods to report readjustment problems. The vast majority reported they were in good or excellent health. Women veterans had made use of a range of programs and benefits administered by the VA. The low rate of usage of VA programs by women veterans seemed to reflect a problem of benefit awareness rather than preference. Lower rates of utilization of VA hospitals by women veterans compared to male veterans were found. Need and perceived eligibility appeared to be factors that most influenced their decision to seek care in VA hospitals. Anticipated future usage of VA facilities and programs was somewhat higher than current usage."
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ERIC
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