Appendix C1
Vietnam Veterans Health Study, 1997 FemalesFinal Report
Client: Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Prepared by: ACNielsen Contacts: Bob White/Rachel Frost (02) 6239 6956 Date: 31 March 1998 Ref No: NG1031
Executive Summary
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Introduction
The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) contracted ACNielsen (then trading as AGB McNair) in April 1997 to conduct a mail-out survey of surviving male and female veterans, widows of veterans and divorced and separated partners of Vietnam veterans, in order to collect information on the health status of veterans and their families.
The principal aim of the study was to establish Vietnam veterans' views on their own health status and any effect they consider their Vietnam service may have on their own health and that of their partners and children.
This report details the methodology and findings for all surviving female Vietnam veterans. Other reports cover male veterans and widows, divorced and separated partners of Vietnam veterans.
Methodology
The survey involved a mail-out to 278 surviving female Vietnam veterans. The response to the survey was very good. The response rate (defined as the proportion of in scope veterans who completed a questionnaire) was 81%.
Survey Results
The majority of female veterans surveyed were aged between 50-59 (65%) and nearly fifty per cent of them served as civilians.
Veterans' Health
Overall health status
Female veterans were asked whether, in general, their health was excellent, very good, good, fair or poor. Only 12% of female veterans rated their health as excellent, 26% as very good, 36% as good, 19% as fair and 5% as poor.
Reporting of these conditions varied with service with female Army veterans the most likely to say that their health was fair or poor (41%) while civilians were the least likely (14%).
Conditions Suffered At Any Time Related to Service in Vietnam
Female veterans were asked to indicate whether they had suffered from hearing/ear problems, insomnia/sleep disturbance, depression, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, migraines, alcohol/drug abuse and haemorrhoids that they felt may be related to their service in Vietnam.
Insomnia or sleep disturbance was the most commonly reported condition of those listed with 22% of female veterans reporting having suffered from this condition.
Reporting of these conditions varied with service with civilians being the least likely to report many of these conditions and Army veterans being most likely. Reporting of insomnia/sleep disturbance varied from 14% for civilians to 41% for Army veterans, depression ranged from 13% for civilians to 26% for Army veterans.
Conditions Diagnosed Since First Day Of Service In Vietnam
Female veterans were asked whether, since their first day of service in Vietnam, they had been advised by a doctor that they had suffered from gastric reflux, stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers, cirrhosis of the liver, PTSD, high blood pressure, allergies, asthma or other respiratory disorders.
Approximately one quarter of female veterans reported having been diagnosed with high blood pressure (23%) and gastric reflux (25%).
Reporting of these conditions varied by service. Female Army veterans were considerably more likely to report most of these conditions than members of other services with the exception of gastric reflux and allergies which RAAF veterans were most likely to report.
Cancers Diagnosed Since First Day Of Service In Vietnam
Just under one third (30%) of all female veterans surveyed reported that they had been diagnosed with some form of cancer since their first day of service in Vietnam.
Diseases Diagnosed Since First Day Of Service In Vietnam
Female veterans were asked whether, since their first day of service in Vietnam, they had been advised by a doctor that they had suffered from hepatitis, malaria, strongyloides worm infection, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis or ischaemic heart disease. Ischaemic heart disease was the most commonly reported condition (25%).
Non-Cancerous Skin Conditions
Less than one fifth (17%) of all female veterans surveyed reported that they had been told by a doctor that they had a severe or persistent non-cancerous skin condition since their first day of service in Vietnam.
Female Army veterans were the most likely to report having such a condition (26%) followed by RAAF veterans (15%) and civilians (12%).
Health Of Partner(s)
Perceived Effect Of Vietnam Service On Health of Partner(s)
Veterans, who had at some time been married or lived in a de facto relationship, were asked whether they felt that their service in Vietnam, or their health problems as a consequence, had caused any serious adverse effect on the health of their current or past partners -- 13% of female veterans said yes.
Reporting of these conditions varied by service with Army female veterans the most likely to say that their partners had suffered serious adverse effects (19%) while civilians were the least likely (9%).
Conditions Suffered By Partners Related To Vietnam Service
Veterans were asked whether their partners had suffered from anxiety, stress, depression, alcohol or drug abuse, insomnia/sleep disturbance, migraines or high blood pressure which they felt may be related to their service in Vietnam. Stress and anxiety were the most commonly reported conditions (14% and 12% respectively).
Army partners were most likely to suffer from all conditions listed. One quarter (25%) of all Army female veterans reported that their partners had suffered stress as a result of their service in Vietnam compared to 15% of RAAF veterans and 9% of civilian veterans.
Health Of Children
Less than one fifth (17%) of female veterans had tried for more than 12 months to conceive a child without success since their first day of service in Vietnam while 16% had had a miscarriage, 7% had had a termination, 3% of female veterans had a child that was still born and 1% had an ectopic pregnancy.
In addition, 20% of female veterans indicated that they had given birth to a live child with labour complications.
Just under half of the female veterans surveyed (49%) have given birth (live birth). In total, female veterans have given birth to 215 children since their first day of service in Vietnam. Of these, 54% were male and 46% were female.
1. Introduction
The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) contracted ACNielsen (then trading as AGB McNair) in April 1997 to conduct a mail-out survey of surviving male and female veterans, widows of veterans and divorced and separated partners of Vietnam veterans, in order to collect information on the health status of female veterans and their families.
The principal aim of the study was to establish Vietnam veterans' views on their own health status and any effect they consider their Vietnam service may have had on their own health and that of their partners and children.
The results of this survey would be used to complement previous research including. The Australian Vietnam Veterans Health Study, 199653 and the Mortality of Vietnam veterans: the veteran cohort study, 1997.17
This report details the methodology and findings for all surviving female Vietnam veterans. Other reports cover male veterans and widows, divorced and separated partners of Vietnam veterans.
2. Methodology
The methodological approach comprised 3 phases:
- An initial mail-out to all surviving female Vietnam veterans of a self-completion, mail back questionnaire with a covering letter and a reply-paid envelope.
- A reminder mail-out to female Vietnam veterans who did not respond to the initial mail-out.
- A second reminder mail-out to female Vietnam veterans who did not respond to the first reminder, including another copy of the questionnaire (with an identical bar code).
The details of our approach are outlined below.
2.1 Sampling Frame
The survey involved a mail-out to 278 surviving female Vietnam veterans. A list of the female Vietnam veterans was provided by DVA to ACNielsen for mailing purposes.
The list provided by DVA did not include service details of veterans, these details had to be matched back to the file at a later stage resulting in problems in determining duplicate listings. In addition, the list contained a number of duplicate and triplicate listings and subsequent additions to the first list as a result of the awareness campaign also resulted in further duplicate listings although these were mainly a result of out of date/ incorrect addresses on the first list. It should be remembered that at the mailing out stage of the survey, priority was given to ensuring no Vietnam veteran was missing from the mailing list, rather than the resolution of possible duplication on the mailing list. The removal of duplicates from the mailing list and the completed questionnaires database was dealt with at the end of the field phase.
The process of eliminating duplicates was carried out using the following procedures:
- The final complete mailing list of 278 female veterans was matched back to the latest DVA lists based on the Nominal Roll, that contained service details such as Service Number, days of exposure and years of service. Where a unique match occurred the service details were added to the ACNielsen list.All information relating to duplicates that became known to us directly from veterans through letters and calls to ACNielsen or the telephone hotline or through annotations on completed questionnaires or reminder letters was used to update the mailing list and remove duplicate completed questionnaires.
- Using the information from (1) and (2) above, the updated mailing list was then sorted by name, initials and address. All apparent duplicates were checked with special emphasis where apparent duplicates had each completed a questionnaire.
This de-duplication process resulted in the number of completed questionnaires being reduced from 225 to 223.
ACNielsen are confident that the number of duplicated completed questionnaires on the completed questionnaire database is now insignificant.
2.2 Mail-Out
2.2.1 Initial Mail-Out
ACNielsen sub-contracted Data Direct Australia Pty Ltd to conduct the mail-out of 278 questionnaires to female veterans. A bar code was attached to each questionnaire for response monitoring purposes. All Vietnam veterans on the mailing list received a copy of the questionnaire (a copy is at Appendix C2), a cover sheet with instructions for completing the questionnaire (a copy is at Appendix C3) and a covering letter signed by the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and representatives of ex-service organisations (a copy is at Appendix C4).
This mail-out commenced on 20 May, 1997 and the majority of veterans on the final mailing list had been sent a questionnaire by the end of May 1997.
2.2.2 Reminders
The first reminder consisting of a one page letter (a copy is at Appendix C5) was sent on 6 June 1997 to female veterans who had not yet responded to the initial mail-out.
The second reminder, containing a second copy of the questionnaire, was sent on 9 July 1997 to female veterans who had still not responded. A copy of the letter is at Appendix C6.
2.3 Questionnaire Design
The content of the questionnaire was provided by the Department of Veterans' Affairs to ACNielsen. ACNielsen's role was to put that content into a format suitable for a self completion questionnaire. ACNielsen's role was therefore format design rather than content design.
The design of the questionnaire was limited by the condition, applied by DVA, that it be no longer than four A4 pages so as not to be a burden to respondents.
The questionnaire comprised five parts:
- Part A -- Medical history of veterans
- Part B -- Marital history of veterans
- Part C -- Health of veterans' partner(s)
- Part D -- Health of veterans' children
- Part E -- General (overall health status, demographics and further comments)
2.4 Pilot Test
As timing considerations did not allow for a replication of the mail-out phase for a full test of all procedures it was decided to conduct a streamlined pilot test with a small number of veterans. The primary aim of the pilot test was to ensure that veterans could accurately complete the questionnaire.
The veterans selected for the pilot test were recruited using Departmental networks. Veterans were contacted by phone and asked if they would be willing to participate in the pilot test. If they agreed, then they were sent a questionnaire by mail or courier. They completed the questionnaire and ACNielsen did a follow-up interview on the telephone to assess the questionnaire in terms of such things as ease of completion and understandability of questions.
A total of 3 female veterans completed a questionnaire.
Reactions to the questionnaire itself were positive with all respondents finding it 'easy' to fill out. The average length of time it took to complete was about 10 minutes.
Most respondents felt that all relevant issues were adequately covered.
A number of minor changes were made to the way questions were asked and to response categories as a result of the pilot test.
2.5 Response Rates
The response to the survey was very good. The response rate (defined as the proportion of in scope veterans who completed a questionnaire) was 81%. Further response details are in Table A.
Table A: Female Veterans: Response Rate Summary, 1997
Response category No. % Total Veterans 278 100.0 Out of scope 3 1.1 Not a Vietnam veteran* 3 1.1 In scope 275 98.9 No response 20 7.2 Completed questionnaire 223 80.2 Refusal 1 0.4 Return to sender 31 11.2
* Although these people indicated that they were not Vietnam veterans it is noted that some may have been unaware that their service classified them as being Vietnam veterans.
2.6 Response Monitoring System
All questionnaires were tracked in using a "gun". The gun read the bar code on the questionnaire and recorded each return on the Response Monitoring System (RMS). The RMS system was used to track the response rate during data collection and to check and monitor returns from particular respondents where required.
2.7 Coding
All answers to questions that were not pre-coded on the questionnaire were coded in our Sydney Office by experienced coders. They were assisted by a medical coding expert who provided advice and direction to the team and regularly resolved any queries identified by the coders.
Code frames were developed based on the ICD -9 guidelines and were approved by DVA prior to coding taking place.
A copy of all codeframe extensions is supplied at Appendix C7.
Data entry of questionnaires was undertaken by the data entry team in our Sydney Office. Range and logic edit checks were undertaken. Pre-coded responses were double keyed to ensure high quality data.
3. Main Findings
3.1 Demographics
The majority of female veterans surveyed were aged between 50-59 (65%), nearly fifty per cent of them served as civilians.
3.1.1 Age
Veterans were asked to record their age on the self-completion questionnaire. Nearly two thirds of respondents were aged between 50-59 (Table 1).
Table 1: Female Vietnam Veterans: Age (from questionnaire) (a)(b)
Age No. % 40-44 1 0 45-49 11 5 50-54 74 33 55-59 71 32 60-64 27 12 65+ 38 17 Not specified 1 0
(a) Vietnam Veterans' Study 1997
(b) Based on 223 respondentsDue to the small number of female veterans aged 40-44, they have not been included in the age analysis in this report.
3.1.2 Service
Veterans were asked to state what service they had been in as part of the questionnaire. Respondents could select more than one service category. Only one respondent indicated that she served in more than one service and has been recorded as serving in multiple categories.
Nearly half of the females surveyed were civilians (47%) (Table 2).
Table 2: Female Vietnam Veterans: Service Type (from questionnaire) (a)(b)
Service No. % Army 46 21 RAAF 72 32 Civilian organisation 103 47 Not stated 2 1
(a) Vietnam Veterans' Study 1997
(b) Based on 223 respondents3.2 Veterans' Health
3.2.1 Overall Health Status
Veterans were asked whether, in general, their health was excellent, very good, good, fair or poor.
Only 12% rated their health as excellent, 26% as very good, 36% as good, 19% as fair and 5% as poor. Army veterans were most likely to say that their health was fair or poor (41%) while civilians were the least likely (14%) (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Female Vietnam Veterans: Overall health status by service (a)(b)
(a) Vietnam Veterans' Study 1997
(b) Based on 221 respondentsResponse to this question also varied with age. Veterans aged less than 54 were the most likely to say that their general health was excellent while female veterans aged 60 or more were the most likely to say that their health was good or fair (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Female Vietnam Veterans: Overall health status by age (a)(b)
(a) Vietnam Veterans' Study 1997
(b) Based on 222 respondents3.2.2 Conditions Suffered At Any Time Related to Service in Vietnam
Veterans were asked to indicate which of the medical conditions listed in Table 3 they had suffered that they felt may be related to their service in Vietnam. Insomnia or sleep disturbance was the most commonly reported condition of those listed with 22% of female veterans reporting having suffered from this condition.
Table 3: Female Vietnam Veterans: Conditions suffered at any time related to service in Vietnam(a)
Condition %
n=223Insomnia/sleep disturbance 22 Hearing/ear problems 18 Depression 17 Anxiety disorders 17 Panic attacks 13 Migraine 11 Alcohol/drug abuse 9 Haemorrhoids 9
(a) Vietnam Veterans' Study 1997
Reporting of these conditions varied with service with civilians being the least likely to report many of these conditions (Figure 3).
Figure 3: Female Vietnam Veterans: Conditions suffered at any time related to service in Vietnam by service (a)(b)
(a) Vietnam Veterans' Study 1997
(b) Based on 221 respondentsAge also impacted on response with those aged 60+ being least likely to suffer from all of the conditions listed (Figure 4).
Figure 4: Female Vietnam Veterans: Conditions suffered at any time related to service in Vietnam by age (a)(b)
(a) Vietnam Veterans' Study 1997
(b) Based on 222 respondentsApproximately 61% of female veterans reported suffering from none of the conditions listed above.
3.2.3 Conditions Diagnosed Since First Day Of Service In Vietnam
Veterans were asked whether, since their first day of service in Vietnam, they had been advised by a doctor that they had suffered from any of the various medical conditions listed in Table 4 below. One quarter had suffered from gastric reflux and just under one quarter had suffered from high blood pressure (23%).
Table 4: Female Vietnam Veterans: Conditions diagnosed since first day of service in Vietnam(a)
Condition %
n=223Gastric Reflux 25 High Blood Pressure 23 Allergies 17 Asthma 13 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder 12 Stomach Ulcer 7 Duodenal Ulcer 4 Cirrhosis of the Liver 0 Other Respiratory Disorders 11
(a) Vietnam Veterans' Study 1997
Reporting of these conditions varied by service. Female Army veterans were more likely to report most of these conditions than members of other services with the exception of gastric reflux and allergies which RAAF veterans were most likely to report (Figure 5).
Figure 5: Female Vietnam Veterans: Conditions diagnosed since first day of service in Vietnam by Service(a)(b)
(a) Vietnam Veterans' Study 1997
(b) Based on 221 respondentsReporting of these conditions also varied with age. Female veterans aged 60+ were the most likely to report suffering from allergies, asthma and other respiratory disorders, veterans aged less than 54 were the most likely to report having suffered from PTSD (Figure 6).
Figure 6: Female Vietnam Veterans: Conditions diagnosed since first day of service in Vietnam by age (a)(b)
(a) Vietnam Veterans' Study 1997
(b) Based on 222 respondents3.2.4 Cancers Diagnosed Since First Day Of Service In Vietnam
Exactly 30% of all female veterans surveyed reported that they had been diagnosed with some form of cancer since their first day of service in Vietnam.
Veterans who reported suffering or having suffered from cancer were asked to indicate what type of cancer they had. The number of each cancer reported in the Vietnam veteran population is provided in Table 5.
Table 5: Female Vietnam Veterans: Cancers diagnosed since first day of service in Vietnam(a)
Type of Cancer %
n=223Melanoma 7 Other skin cancer (BCC/SCC) 37 Breast cancer 17 Cancer of the cervix 8 Head/neck 5 Endometrial/uterine cancer 4 Hydatidiform mole 4 Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma 2 Soft tissue sarcoma 2 Leukaemia 1 Colon/bowel 1 Cancer of the ovaries 1 Other 2
(a) Vietnam Veterans' Study 1997
3.2.5 Non-Cancerous Vaginal Problems
All female veterans were asked whether, since their first day of service in Vietnam, they had been told by a doctor that they had non-cancerous vaginal problems, abnormal cervical smears or other non-cancerous cervical problems. Approximately 9% had been told by a doctor they had vaginal problems, 13% had abnormal cervical smears and 4% had other cervical problems.
Female Army veterans were most likely to report having had an abnormal cervical smear (22%) compared to 10% of RAAF veterans and 12% of civilians.
3.2.6 Hysterectomy Since First day of Service in Vietnam
All female veterans were asked whether they had had a hysterectomy since their first day of service in Vietnam, 27% said yes. Women aged 55-59 were the most likely to say they had had one (37%). RAAF veterans were more likely than either Army veterans or civilians to say they had had a hysterectomy (36% cf. 24% for others).
3.2.7 Diseases Diagnosed Since First Day of Service in Vietnam
Veterans were asked whether, since their first day of service in Vietnam, they had been advised by a doctor that they had suffered from any of the various medical conditions listed in Table 6 below. Ischaemic heart disease was the most commonly reported condition followed by hepatitis.
Table 6: Female Vietnam Veterans: Diseases diagnosed since first day of service in Vietnam(a)
Condition %
n=223Ischaemic heart disease 25 Hepatitis 17 Malaria 6 Strongyloides worm infection 2 Multiple sclerosis 1 Motor neurone disease 0
(a) Vietnam Veterans' Study 1997
Veterans who reported having being diagnosed with hepatitis were asked what type of hepatitis they had had. Nine had Type A, 4 had Type B and 2 had Type C.
3.2.8 Diabetes Since First Day of Service in Vietnam
Only five of the female Vietnam Veterans surveyed had been diagnosed with diabetes since their first day of service in Vietnam, four of the five were aged less than 54.
3.2.9 Non-Cancerous Skin Conditions
Exactly 17% of all female veterans surveyed reported that they had been told by a doctor that they had a severe or persistent non-cancerous skin condition since their first day of service in Vietnam.
Army female veterans were the most likely to report having such a condition (26%) followed by RAAF veterans (15%) and civilians (12%). Women aged less than 54 were the most likely to report suffering from a severe or persistent skin condition (21% cf. 12-14% of others).
Veterans who reported suffering or having suffered from a severe or persistent skin condition were asked to indicate what type of condition they suffered from (Table 7). Dermatitis was the most commonly reported condition.
Table 7: Female Vietnam Veterans: Severe or persistent skin conditions diagnosed since first day of service in Vietnam(a)
Skin Condition %
n=223Dermatitis 16 Psoriasis 10 Keratosis/sunspots/solar skin damage 5 Eczema 4 Persistent tinea 4 Rash on body 4 Severe acne/rosacea 3 Other fungal infection/ringworm 1 Other skin infections/boils/scalp infections/herpes 1 Discolouration/loss of pigmentation/blotches/pityriasis/ versicolour/vitiligo 1 Seborrhoea 1 Not stated 1
(a) Vietnam Veterans' Study 1997
3.2.10 Other Major Illnesses/Injuries Diagnosed by a Doctor Since First Day of Service in Vietnam
Veterans were asked whether they had been told by a doctor that they had any other major illness which they had not already listed, or had suffered any major injuries (including war wounds) that they felt were related to their service in Vietnam. The majority of respondents said 'no' (75%) with 21% saying 'yes'. Army female veterans were most likely to say yes (33%) and civilians the least likely (15%).
Respondents with other illnesses or injuries were asked to detail these conditions. The following table represents the coded responses of female veterans.
Table 8: Female Vietnam Veterans: Other major illnesses/injuries diagnosed since first day of service in Vietnam(a)
Illness/Injury %
n=223Back problems 11 Other musculo-skeletal problems 8 Nervous system/sense organs 9 Digestive system 9 Endocrine/auto-immune system/immune systems 8 Psychological/psychiatric problems 8 Circulatory system 7 Respiratory system 6 Genito-urinary system 6 Infectious/parasitic diseases 4 Signs and symptoms (no specified causes) 3 Chemical poisoning (nfi) 1 Other 8
(a) Vietnam Veterans' Study 1997
3.3 Health of Partner(s)
The second section of the questionnaire related to the health of the female veterans past and present partners. Questions relating to marital history and the number of marriage-like relationships were also asked.
3.3.1 Marital History
Less than half of all female veterans surveyed are currently married (48%) with an additional 2% living in a de facto relationship. Nine per cent of female veterans are divorced, 3% are separated and 6% are widowed. Nearly one third (31%) have never married.
Veterans were also asked the number of times they had been married or lived in a de facto relationship. Over half of female veterans surveyed had only had one such relationship (56%), 8% had been in two marriage-like relationships, 2% had been in three such relationships, 1% had been in four such relationships. Approximately 22% had never been in a marriage-like relationship and 12% did not specify.
3.3.2 Perceived Effect on Health of Vietnam Service
Veterans, who had at some time been married or lived in a de facto relationship, were asked whether they felt that their service in Vietnam, or their health problems as a consequence, had caused any serious adverse effect on the health of their current or past partners. Only 13% of female veterans said yes.
Army female veterans were the most likely to say that their partners had suffered serious adverse effects (19%), while civilians were the least likely (9%). Veterans aged 55-59 were the most likely to say that their service had caused a serious adverse effect on the health of their current or past partner (18%), while those aged 60+ were the least likely (5%).
Veterans were also asked whether any of their partners had suffered health problems, either physical or psychological that they felt may be related to their service in Vietnam. Approximately 14% said yes. While only 10% of civilians indicated that their partner had suffered health problems, 22% of Army female veterans indicated that their partner had suffered health problems. Veterans aged 55-59 were again the most likely to say yes (18%).
3.3.3 Conditions Suffered by Partners Related to Vietnam Service
Veterans were asked whether their partners had suffered from any of the conditions listed in Table 9 below which they felt may be related to their service in Vietnam. Stress and anxiety were the most commonly cited conditions.
Table 9: Female Vietnam Veterans: Conditions suffered by partners related to service in Vietnam(a)
Condition %
n=175Stress 14 Anxiety 12 Insomnia/sleep disturbance 9 Depression 7 High blood pressure 7 Alcohol or drug abuse 6 Migraines 2
(a) Vietnam Veterans' Study 1997
Army partners were most likely to suffer from all conditions listed. One quarter (25%) of all Army female veterans with partners reported that their partners had suffered stress as a result of their service in Vietnam compared to 15% of RAAF veterans and 9% of civilian veterans (Figure 7).
Figure 7: Female Vietnam Veterans: Conditions suffered by partners related to service in Vietnam by service(a)(b)
(a) Vietnam Veterans' Study 1997
(b) Based on 174 respondentsVeterans aged 60+ were the least likely to report that their partners had suffered from the conditions listed above.
Approximately 83% of female veterans indicated that their partner(s) had suffered from none of these conditions. Army veterans were the least likely to say this (69%) while civilians were the most likely (88%). Age again impacted on response with 95% of those aged 60+ saying that their partner(s) had suffered from none of these conditions compared to 80-81% of others.
Veterans who indicated that their partner(s) had suffered from a medical condition related to their service in Vietnam were asked to indicate whether their partner had required treatment for any of these problems, 79% (23 respondents) said yes.
3.4 Health of Children
This section relates to the health of the children of female Vietnam veterans.
3.4.1 Problems with Reproductive Health
Exactly 17% of female veterans had tried for more than 12 months to conceive a child without success since their first day of service in Vietnam, while 16% had had a miscarriage, 7% had had a termination, 3% of female veterans had a child that was still born, and 1% had an ectopic pregnancy.
Veterans were also asked to indicate how many miscarriages, stillbirths, terminations or ectopic pregnancies they had had since their first day of service in Vietnam. The following table details the total number of miscarriages, terminations and stillbirths reported by female veterans.
Table 10: Female Vietnam Veterans: Number of miscarriages, terminations, stillbirths and ectopic pregnancies(a)(b)
No. of miscarriages/stillbirths/terminations/ectopic pregnancies
No. of miscarriages/stillbirths/terminations/ectopic pregnancies 1 2 3 4 5+ Total Miscarriages 23 6 5 1 55 Terminations 11 2 2 21 Stillbirths 7 7 Ectopic pregnancies 2 2
(a) Vietnam Veterans' Study 1997
(b) Based on 223 respondentsIn addition, 20% of female veterans indicated that they had given birth to a child (live birth) with labour complications.
3.4.2 Number, Age and Sex of Children Born Since First Day of Service in Vietnam
Just under half of the female veterans surveyed (49%) have given birth (live birth). Of these female veterans, 9% had given birth to no children since their first day of service in Vietnam, 17% had given birth to one child, 47% had given birth to two children, 23% had given birth to three children, 3% had given birth to four children and 1% had given birth to five or more children since their first day of service in Vietnam.
In total, female veterans have given birth to 215 children since their first day of service in Vietnam. Of these, 54% were male and 46% were female. The following chart illustrates the year of birth and sex distribution of these children (Figure 8).
Figure 8: Female Vietnam veterans with a child conceived since first day of service in Vietnam: Number of such children by year of birth and sex of child (a)(b)
(a) Vietnam Veterans' Study 1997
(b) Based on 100 respondents3.4.3 Sight/Hearing Problems of Children Conceived Since First Day of Service in Vietnam
Of the 100 female veterans with children (conceived since their first day of service in Vietnam), 3% reported that at least one of their children suffered from sight problems not able to be corrected by spectacles, and 12% had a child that suffered from a long term hearing or ear problem. The vast majority of female veterans' children conceived since their first day of service in Vietnam suffered neither of these problems (87%).
3.4.4 Congenital Abnormalities in Children Conceived Since First Day of Service in Vietnam
Veterans with children born since their first day of service in Vietnam were asked whether any of their children had been diagnosed with Down's syndrome, tracheo-oesophageal fistula, spina bifida or anencephaly. One female veteran reported that her child had Down's syndrome and one that her child had a tracheo-oesophageal fistula.
Veterans with children born since their first day of service in Vietnam were asked if any of their children had been diagnosed by a doctor as having various defects. Absent body parts and extra body parts were each mentioned by one female veteran, who each had one child with such a defect, none of the veterans indicated that a child had been born with a cleft palate. Veterans were also asked whether their child suffered from some other abnormality, 15 said yes with a total of 21 children suffering from some other abnormality (some female veterans had more than one child with an abnormality).
3.4.5 Cancer in Children Conceived Since First Day of Service in Vietnam
Veterans were asked whether any of their children, conceived since their first day of service in Vietnam, had been diagnosed with leukaemia, Wilms' tumour or a tumour of the nervous system. One child had been diagnosed as having Wilms' tumour. No children were diagnosed with leukaemia or tumour of the nervous system.
In addition, when asked to report any other cancers suffered by children, one child was reported as having had a melanoma.
3.4.6 Other Major Illnesses Suffered by Children Conceived Since First Day of Service in Vietnam
Veterans were asked whether any of their children, conceived since their first day of service in Vietnam, had suffered any other major illnesses. Just over one quarter (28%) of female veterans said yes with proportions ranging from 23% of civilians to 39% of Army veterans.
Veterans who indicated that one or more of their children had suffered some other major illness not already mentioned were asked to detail what these conditions were, coded responses are tabulated below (Table 11). We have assumed that each condition listed by a Veteran was suffered by only one child.
Table 11: Children of female Vietnam veterans conceived since first day of service in Vietnam: Other major illnesses(a)
Other major illness No.
n=100Respiratory system 13 Nervous system/sense organs 5 Psychological/psychiatric problems 5 Endocrine/auto-immune/immune systems 4 Circulatory system 4 Genito-urinary system/reproductive system 3 Skin complaints 3 Musculo-skeletal problems 3 Digestive system 2 Infectious/parasitic diseases 2 Other 4
(a) Vietnam Veterans' Study 1997
Nearly three quarters of female veterans surveyed who had children which were conceived since their first day of service in Vietnam said that their children had no other major illnesses to report (72%).
3.4.7 Deaths of Children Born at any Time due to Illness/Suicide/Accident
Four female veterans reported that they had a child (born at any time) that had died due to illness, and one had a child that had died due to accident or some other cause.
3.4.8 Psychiatric/Anxiety Disorders Suffered by Children Born at any Time
Seven female veterans indicated that they had one child, born at any time, with psychiatric problems, one had three children with psychiatric problems.
Twenty female veterans had one child, born at any time, with anxiety disorders, four had two children with anxiety disorders and one had three children with anxiety disorders.
3.5 Other Significant Health or Welfare Concerns
All female veterans were given the opportunity to detail any other significant health or welfare concerns that they had on completion of the questionnaire. The comments were wide ranging and while some were related to medical conditions others were related to DVA, the government and their perceived needs. The following table (Table 12) details the coded responses of 78 female veterans who provided comments in this section. Respondents could indicate multiple concerns.
Table 12: Female Vietnam Veterans: Other significant health or welfare concerns(a)
Significant health or welfare concerns No.
n=223Medical Conditions Psychological/psychiatric problems 20 Nervous system/sense organs 12 Other musculo-skeletal problems 13 Back problems 6 Skin complaints 3 Digestive system 7 Circulatory system 4 Respiratory system 8 Genito-urinary system 4 Endocrine/auto-immune system/immune systems 8 Infectious/parasitic diseases 4 Chemical poisoning (nfi) 2 Dental problems/problems with teeth, gums/gingivitis Chronic fatigue syndrome/post-viral syndrome 1 Amputation 1 Signs and symptoms (no specified causes) 1 Other Medical 3 Non-Medical Conditions Critical of DVA/government:
DVA difficult to deal with/stressful process/takes too long to recognise claim/complaint not recognised1 Inadequate support/services/benefits 7 Comments relating to military service: Concern about chemicals/asbestos 1 Concern about conditions of military service 1 Concern about negative community attitudes/concern about lack of recognition/acceptance of contribution made by female veterans 2 Concern about medical records/lack of accurate records kept/want access to own records 2 Dissatisfaction with ex-service organisations/groups 1 Other comments on military service 1 Comments re perceived needs:Need for support of spouses and children 5 Difficulties in socialising/personal relationships 2 Difficulty in securing permanent employment 2 Concern about emerging health needs 5 Other Non-Medical 9 (a) Vietnam Veterans' Study 1997
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