Volume 2 Female Veterans: Part C

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Part C: Health of Partner(s)

Question C1
Question C2
Question C3
Question C4

Because of the nature of the questions in this section of the questionnaire, it was not feasible to obtain comparable community data. Similar data are generally not sought in community surveys.

Female responses to questions in this part of the survey indicated a lower proportion of problems in their partners than male veterans reported in regards to their partners.

Current policy allows partners access to the VVCS - Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service. The male report recommended that the resources available to support families be reviewed for adequacy. Although not as indicative of a widespread problem, the findings of the female veterans survey support this recommendation.

Question C1
Do you consider that your service in Vietnam or your health problems as a consequence have caused any serious adverse effect to the health of your current or past partner(s)?

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One hundred and forty-nine veterans responded to this question. Of these, 13% felt that their service in Vietnam, or the health problems they had developed as a consequence, had caused serious adverse effects on the health of their current or past partner(s). The proportion of male veterans who considered that their service had had an adverse effect on the health of their partners was considerably higher (36%).

Question C2

Have any of your partners (current or past) suffered health problems (either physical or psychological) that you feel may be related to your service in Vietnam?

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One hundred and fifty-four veterans answered this question. Of these 25 (14%) veterans believed their partners had suffered health problems related to their service in Vietnam.

Question C3

Have any of your partners (current or past) suffered from any of the following medical conditions that you feel may be related to your service in Vietnam?

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Condition Number of Veterans Reporting Condition n = 175

Stress 25 (14%)

18-32^a

Anxiety 21 (12%)

14-28^a

Insomnia/Sleep Disturbance 16 (9%)

10-22^a

Depression 12 (7%)

7-17^a

High Blood Pressure 12 (7%)

7-17^a

Alcohol or Drug Abuse 10 (6%)

5-15^a

Migraines 3 (2%)

1-9^a

a 95% confidence interval for number of veterans reporting condition

Comment

One hundred and seventy-five veterans responded to this question. For every condition listed, the partners of female veterans were reported to have a more favourable health status than the partners of male veterans. This may represent female veterans' greater awareness of protecting their partners from health problems, or some greater susceptibility to health problems among the partners of male veterans. A combination of these factors is also possible.

Question C4
Have they required treatment for any of these problems?

Twenty-three veterans reported that their partner(s) required treatment for conditions referred to in question C3. This represented 85% of the 27 veterans who responded to this question.

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*Condition*	*Number of Veterans Reporting Condition n = 175*
Stress	25 (14%)
	18-32^a
Anxiety	21 (12%)
	14-28^a
Insomnia/Sleep Disturbance	16 (9%)
	10-22^a
Depression	12 (7%)
	7-17^a
High Blood Pressure	12 (7%)
	7-17^a
Alcohol or Drug Abuse	10 (6%)
	5-15^a
Migraines	3 (2%)
	1-9^a