Describing Adverse Pregnancy Events and Pregnancy-Associated Death Among Veterans.

Veterans who use VA pregnancy benefits may be at high risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes; however, little is known about rates of adverse pregnancy events or pregnancy-associated death among Veterans. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using VA national administrative data for Veterans ages 18-45 with at least one pregnancy outcome between October 2009 and September 2016 and a VA primary care visit within one year prior to pregnancy. We identified adverse events during pregnancy and up to 42 days after pregnancy and all-cause mortality within one year of pregnancy and compared prevalence of adverse events by Veteran race/ethnicity using adjusted logistic regression.

Insomnia and unhealthy alcohol use in a National Sample of Women Veterans 50 years and older enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration.

In this study, we examined rates of insomnia and co-occurring unhealthy alcohol use in a national sample of women Veterans age 50 years and older. We further explored associations between sociodemographic measures, insomnia-related clinical characteristics, and unhealthy alcohol use, and analyzed whether women with insomnia were more likely to report unhealthy alcohol use. Study aims were evaluated using national Veterans Health Administration (VA) electronic health records data from VA's Corporate Data Warehouse.

Abortion After Pregnancy Occurrence with Contraceptive Use Among Veterans.

Many people report becoming pregnant while using contraception. Understanding more about this phenomenon may provide insight into pregnant people's responses to and healthcare needs for these pregnancies. This study explores the outcome (e.

A systematic review of experimentally tested implementation strategies across health and human service settings: evidence from 2010-2022.

Background: Studies of implementation strategies range in rigor, design, and evaluated outcomes, presenting interpretation challenges for practitioners and researchers. This systematic review aimed to describe the body of research evidence testing implementation strategies across diverse settings and domains, using the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) taxonomy to classify strategies and the Reach Effectiveness Adoption Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework to classify outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review of studies examining implementation strategies from 2010-2022 and registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021235592).

The role of gender and veteran status in healthcare access among a national sample of U.S. adults with unhealthy alcohol use.

Routine healthcare access is critical to reduce drinking and its effects, yet little is known about Veteran and gender differences in routine healthcare access among unhealthy drinkers. The current study examined differences in routine healthcare access, stratified by Veteran status and gender, among a national sample of adults endorsing unhealthy drinking. Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System National Survey, we identified adults who endorsed unhealthy drinking over the past month (N = 58,816; 41.

Reproductive health services: A missed opportunity in VA primary care?

Objective: Integration of reproductive health services into comprehensive primary care is increasingly viewed as a strategy to address service gaps and improve patient-centered care. We assess receipt of contraceptive and prepregnancy health counseling among pregnancy-capable Veterans within Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care.

Study Design: Data are from 1076 participants in a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey of women Veterans ages 18 to 45 with an overall survey response rate of 28%.

Recent and Frequent Mental Distress Among Women with a History of Military Service, 2003-2019.

Examining women veterans' self-reported mental health is critical to understanding their unique mental and physical health needs. This study describes self-reported mental distress over a 17-year period among cross-sectional nationally representative samples of women in the USA using data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) core national surveys from 2003 to 2019. Nationally representative prevalence estimates of self-reported mental distress were compared between women veterans and their (1) men veteran and (2) women civilian counterparts.

Veteran-Reported Receipt of Prepregnancy Care: Data from the Examining Contraceptive Use and Unmet Need (ECUUN) Study.

Objectives: To identify the prevalence of women Veterans reporting receipt of counseling about health optimization prior to pregnancy, topics most frequently discussed, and factors associated with receipt of this care.

Methods: We analyzed data from a nationally representative, cross-sectional telephone survey of women Veterans (n = 2302) ages 18-45 who used VA for primary care in the previous year. Our sample included women who were (1) currently pregnant or trying to become pregnant, (2) not currently trying but planning for pregnancy in the future, or (3) unsure of pregnancy intention.

Measuring Female Veterans' Prepregnancy Wellness Using Department of Veterans Affairs' Health Record Data.

Objective: To estimate the feasibility of using measures developed by the Clinical Workgroup of the National Preconception Health and Health Care Initiative to assess women's prepregnancy wellness in a large health care system.

Methods: We examined Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) national administrative data, including inpatient, outpatient, fee-basis, laboratory, pharmacy, and screening data for female veterans aged 18-45 who had at least one pregnancy outcome (ectopic pregnancy, spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, and live birth) during fiscal years 2010-2015 and a VA primary care visit within 1 year before last menstrual period (LMP). LMP was estimated from gestational age at the time of pregnancy outcome, then used as a reference point to assess eight prepregnancy indicators from the Workgroup consensus measures (eg, 3 or 12 months before LMP).

Strategies for effective dissemination of research to United States policymakers: a systematic review.

Background: Research has the potential to influence US social policy; however, existing research in this area lacks a coherent message. The Model for Dissemination of Research provides a framework through which to synthesize lessons learned from research to date on the process of translating research to US policymakers.

Methods: The peer-reviewed and grey literature was systematically reviewed to understand common strategies for disseminating social policy research to policymakers in the United States.

History of unintended pregnancy and patterns of contraceptive use among racial and ethnic minority women veterans.

Background: Nearly half of all pregnancies in the United States each year are unintended, with the highest rates observed among non-Hispanic black and Hispanic women. Little is known about whether variations in unintended pregnancy and contraceptive use across racial and ethnic groups persist among women veteran Veterans Affairs users who have more universal access than other populations to health care and contraceptive services.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to identify a history of unintended pregnancy and describe patterns of contraceptive use across racial and ethnic groups among women veterans accessing Veterans Affairs primary care.

Family factors associated with emerging adults' human papillomavirus vaccine behavior.

The current study examined the role of family influences on the vaccine behavior of emerging adults. In Spring 2017, we conducted anonymous online surveys of undergraduate students ( = 608) at a large, public university in the mid-Atlantic. Logistic regression was used to examine associations between family factors and students' awareness of the HPV vaccine, vaccine receipt, and vaccine intentions.

A Primary Care Intervention to Prevent Repeat Pregnancy Among Teen Mothers.

Introduction: The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a patient-centered medical home intervention for teen parent families in reducing rates of unintended repeat pregnancy in the first 2 years postpartum.

Methods: A prospective quasi-experimental evaluation was conducted with 98 African American, low-income, teen mother (aged <20 years) participants who received either the intervention or standard pediatric primary care. All participants completed structured interviews at baseline (child aged 2 months) and at follow-ups 12 and 24 months later.

The Role of Teen Mothers' Support Relationships in Maintenance of Contraceptive Use.

Study Objective: To explore interpersonal factors associated with maintaining contraceptive use over time among urban, African American teen mothers.

Design: Longitudinal study, 2011-2015.

Setting: Six pediatric primary care sites in the same city, all of which primarily serve urban, low-income, African American families.