VA Rocky Mountain Mental Illness, Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) for Suicide Prevention, Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC, 1700 N. Wheeling Street, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
J Gen Intern Med. 2022 Sep;37(Suppl 3):714-723. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07587-1. Epub 2022 Aug 30.
Suicide rates have increased among women Veterans, with increased use of firearms as the method. Addressing suicide risk in this population requires understanding the prevalence and correlates of firearm access in healthcare settings frequented by women Veterans.
Characterize the prevalence and correlates of firearm ownership and storage practices among women Veterans using Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reproductive healthcare (RHC) services.
Cross-sectional national survey conducted in 2018-2019 (17.9% response rate).
Post-9/11 women Veterans using RHC (n=350).
VA Military Sexual Trauma Screen, PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, Hurt/Insult/Threaten/Scream, Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale screener, self-reported firearm access.
38.0% (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 32.9, 43.3) of participants reported personally owning firearms, and 38.9% (95% CI: 33.7, 44.2) reported other household members owned firearms. Among those with firearms in or around their homes, 17.8% (95% CI: 12.3, 24.4) and 21.9% (95% CI: 15.9, 28.9) reported all were unsafely stored (loaded or unlocked, respectively). Women who experienced recent intimate partner violence were less likely to report personally owning firearms (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR]=0.75; 95% CI: 0.57, 0.996). Those who experienced military sexual harassment (APR=1.46; 95% CI=1.09, 1.96), were married (APR=1.74; 95% CI: 1.33, 2.27), or lived with other adult(s) (APR=6.26; 95% CI: 2.87, 13.63) were more likely to report having household firearms owned by someone else. Storing firearms loaded was more prevalent among women with lifetime (APR=1.47; 95% CI=1.03, 2.08) or past-month (APR=1.69; 95% CI=1.15, 2.48) suicidal ideation and less likely among those with other adult(s) in the home (unadjusted PR=0.62; 95% CI=0.43, 0.91). Those with parenting responsibilities (APR=0.61; 95% CI=0.38, 0.97) were less likely to store firearms unlocked.
Firearm access is prevalent among post-9/11 women Veterans using VA RHC. Interpersonal factors may be important determinants of firearm access in this population. Safe firearm storage initiatives are needed among women Veterans using RHC, particularly for those with suicidal ideation.
女性退伍军人的自杀率有所上升，其中使用枪支作为自杀手段的比例有所增加。要解决这一人群的自杀风险，需要了解女性退伍军人在频繁光顾的医疗保健场所中获得枪支的流行程度和相关因素。
描述使用退伍军人事务部（VA）生殖保健（RHC）服务的女性退伍军人拥有和储存枪支的情况及其相关因素。
2018-2019 年进行的横断面全国调查（响应率为 17.9%）。
使用 RHC 的 9/11 后女性退伍军人（n=350）。
VA 性创伤筛查、DSM-5 PTSD 清单、伤害/侮辱/威胁/尖叫、哥伦比亚自杀严重程度评定量表筛查、自我报告的枪支获取情况。
38.0%（95%置信区间[95%CI]：32.9，43.3）的参与者报告个人拥有枪支，38.9%（95%CI：33.7，44.2）的参与者报告其他家庭成员拥有枪支。在那些家中或周围有枪支的人当中，17.8%（95%CI：12.3，24.4）和 21.9%（95%CI：15.9，28.9）的人报告枪支存放不安全（分别为上膛或未上锁）。最近经历过亲密伴侣暴力的女性不太可能报告个人拥有枪支（调整后的患病率比[APR]=0.75；95%CI：0.57，0.996）。那些经历过军事性骚扰（APR=1.46；95%CI=1.09，1.96）、已婚（APR=1.74；95%CI=1.33，2.27）或与其他成年同住者（APR=6.26；95%CI=2.87，13.63）的女性更有可能报告其他家庭成员拥有枪支。在有过终生（APR=1.47；95%CI=1.03，2.08）或过去一个月（APR=1.69；95%CI=1.15，2.48）自杀意念的女性中，枪支上膛的情况更为普遍，而家中有其他成年同住者（未经调整的 PR=0.62；95%CI=0.43，0.91）的女性则不太可能这样做。有育儿责任的人（APR=0.61；95%CI=0.38，0.97）不太可能将枪支不上锁存放。
在使用 VA RHC 的 9/11 后女性退伍军人中，枪支的获取较为普遍。人际因素可能是这一人群获得枪支的重要决定因素。需要在使用 RHC 的女性退伍军人中开展安全枪支储存计划，特别是对有自杀意念的女性。
