Project summary:
Little is known about UK female veterans’ physical healthcare needs and support preferences. To address this gap, CMWR led a collaborative research project with four partner organisations, King’s Centre for Military Health Research, the Royal British Legion, the Veterans’ Trauma Network at Imperial College London, and the Defence Medical Welfare Service, using a mixed-methods, experience-based co-design approach funded by the Government Office for Veterans’ Affairs.
The research found that women veterans experience a distinct physical health profile compared with both male veterans and civilian women. Qualitative interviews revealed that many attributed chronic pain, injuries, and “wear and tear” directly to unsuitable, male-oriented equipment and training during service, with these physical health impacts often compounded by adverse childhood experiences and difficult in-service experiences, including military sexual trauma. Once in civilian life, women veterans reported challenges including difficulties transferring military medical records, low awareness of veteran-specific services, and healthcare professionals lacking understanding of women’s specific needs. Military culture also shaped help-seeking long after service ended, with many women reluctant to ask for support due to a perception that illness signified weakness, or a sense that they weren’t “worthy” of care compared to others.
Project outputs:
Journal article: Long-term physical health conditions among UK female veterans: a UK Biobank cohort study comparing male veterans and female civilians | BMJ Open
