Faculty Bibliography

After being appointed the Women's Health Emergency Department Champion at our Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital, I became aware of the large number of veterans who experienced military sexual trauma (MST). I realized coming to our medical center for care could be daunting for many women. The expansive main lobby is a bustling place where many male veterans congregate speaking in loud voices causing them to seem frightening and aggressive. The men may sometimes approach women to chat, but I have been told by female veterans this act, although seemingly benign, causes anxiety and discomfort.

Violence against women is a global public health problem with about one in three women experiencing either physical and or sexual intimate partner violence during their lifetime. Globally as many as 38% of homicides committed against women are by a male intimate partner. Violence against women may have negative effects on their mental, physical, and reproductive health (WHO fact sheet, 2016). Untreated individuals who have experienced violence or life-threatening situations may develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This disorder has the potential to be life-changing and cause negative psychological and medical issues (Rokach, Ahmed, & Patel, 2017). This potentially life-changing nature and consequence of violence affecting women world-wide deserves greater attention to ensure elimination of risk factors, financial support of investigational studies to promote detection of victims, and research to increase therapeutic efficacy of remediation. These efforts should be bolstered by all physicians, mental health experts, social service specialists, and public health advocates.