Military Women's Health and Illness Behaviors in Deployed Settings
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to gain better understanding of the illness behaviors of military women who were deployed or recently deployed. Design: An ethnographic study design was selected to understand how military women managed GU symptoms during deployment. Setting: The deployed experiences were recalled from various locations around the world. Participants: The final sample consisted of 43 military women from the US Army, Air Force, and Navy who were either deployed or had been deployed within the past year. Methods: Audio recorded interviews ranged from 30 to 75 minutes in length. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather women s stories about their illness behaviors in the deployed setting. Formal interviews, informal interviews and field notes were included in the data analysis. Results: Three themes were identified. 1. Life in the Deployed Setting described the location women were referring when they experienced GU symptoms. 2. The Dynamics of Trust described individuals or entities that were trusted sources of information, supplies, or support. 3. The Sphere of Control described the activities utilized to maintain health or manage GU symptoms. Conclusion: This study is significant to nursing research because it exposes the influence of culture on GU symptom management. Recommendations from this investigation include: (1) a need for better incremental, pre deployment and in theater education for women and medics; (2) informing leaders about the need to ensure the supply of self-care treatments and women s feminine hygiene products are available; and (3) promoting the role of family support stateside as a resource for information, supplies, and emotional support. Implications for Military Nursing: Though as health care professionals we pride ourselves on patient education, however, the social dynamics of the deployed setting severely influences military women s individual self-care and health seeking decision-making.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 12, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA618462
Entities
People
- Candy Wilson
Organizations
- Geneva Foundation