Barriers to Health Care Access and Utilization: A Study of Native American Women Veterans in Two Montana Reservations
Special Social Groups, Social Factors and Disparities in Health and Health Care
ISBN: 978-1-78635-468-6, eISBN: 978-1-78635-467-9
Publication date: 8 August 2016
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to provide a better understanding of Native American women veterans’ experiences with Veteran Administration and Indian Health Services. Eighteen interviews were conducted with special attention to the quality and quantity of health and mental health care services veterans accessed, the barriers and local contextual factors in accessing and utilizing services, and potential solutions to service gaps for women veterans from two Montana reservations, the Northern Cheyenne Reservation and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation.
Methodology/approach
We examine the barriers and needs of Native American veterans in both reservations using qualitative methods. The research analyzed 18 interviews with women veterans from the Northern Cheyenne and Flathead reservations.
Findings
Native American women veterans identified a number of barriers to accessing care, some of which include lack of information regarding eligibility and the types of services available. Women often found the application process to be confusing and difficult. Other barriers included distance, cost of travel, and conflicts with their work schedule.
Research limitations/implications
This exploratory case study served to clarify the challenges and obstacles Native American women veterans experience with accessing health and mental health services. This research revealed several patterns and themes in the experience of Native American women veterans in both reservation communities when attempting to access and seek care at Veterans Administration (VA) facilities and Indian Health Services (IHS). This research calls for policy changes and research to clarify how resources can be more efficiently and effectively distributed to rural veterans.
Originality/value
Little research has addressed the needs of Native American veterans. American Indians and Alaska Natives serve at a higher rate in the U.S. military than any other population. This research provides important information about Native American veterans who are often underrepresented in survey research, yet a rapidly growing segment of the United States military and veteran population.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgment
IRB Approval: Brigham Young University, #X100068. The research has been funded by Charles Redd Center. This chapter is primarily based on AlMasarweh (2014).
The authors wish to thank Dr. Issa AlMasarweh, Dr. Mary Erdmans, Dr. Brian Gran, and Odeh Halaseh for comments on an earlier draft of this chapter. We would also like to thank Colleen Johnson, Patricia Gaither, Beatrice Morlan, Angela Nuttall-Ward, and Bertha Brown for assistance with interviews and preliminary analyses. Additionally, the authors would like to thank the women veterans of both the Northern Cheyenne Nation and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Reservation who participated in this project as well as veterans groups in both communities who helped with contacting participants and provided information about veterans’ issues. Finally, we would like to acknowledge the Tribal Veteran Healthcare Representative and the Tribal VA Representatives who helped us with understanding the needs of veterans and issues with accessing health care in their communities.
Citation
AlMasarweh, L. and Ward, C. (2016), "Barriers to Health Care Access and Utilization: A Study of Native American Women Veterans in Two Montana Reservations", Special Social Groups, Social Factors and Disparities in Health and Health Care (Research in the Sociology of Health Care, Vol. 34), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 33-60. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0275-495920160000034003
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016 Emerald Group Publishing Limited