The National Museum of Health and Medicine welcomed a variety of speakers during a three-day series "March On, Woman: Women's Health and Women in the Military," as part of the traveling exhibit: "The Changing Face of Women's Health."
Guest lecturers discussed the mental and physical health issues of military women as well as the concerns of women on deployment.
Sexual Assault
The series began with a presentation about sexual trauma in the military by Army Lt. Col. Elspeth Cameron Ritchie, M.D., program director, Mental Health Policy and Women's Issues, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Health Affairs. One survey showed that 8 percent of military women become victims of sexual assault during their career. However, many assaults go unreported. She noted that the victim may not report the assault because of fear of isolation, embarrassment, guilt, and seclusion from coworkers.
Ritchie also discussed the mental health concerns of military personnel. Currently, she said, the second most common cause of death in the military is suicide, but that changes are being made to decrease these numbers. She said that each branch of the military and the Department of Defense, Health Affairs are working to update their suicide prevention programs.
"All services and the Department of Defense are working very hard. However this has to be a combined effort among the hospitals, doctors, chaplains and the line," Ritchie said.
Cervical Cancer
The second lecture of the series was given by Navy Cmdr. Curtis Ollayos, M.D., M.P.H., who has since retired. As a cytopathologist in the Department of Cellular Pathology at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Ollayos is concerned with finding out who gets sick and why. For example, he wanted to determine whether civilian or military women are at a greater risk of contracting Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease that is believed to cause cervical cancer. He said that his research shows active duty women ages 17-29 have an elevated risk of cervical disease. This age group may be most affected for a few reasons.
"Some feel that the younger cervix is innately more vulnerable. Others feel it may be explained by social habits, multiple sex partners, unprotected sex, etc.," said Ollayos. "Perhaps it is some of both."
Ollayos stressed the importance of Pap tests in helping to detect HPV and cervical cancer. In 1945, 15,000 women died of cervical cancer, and in 1995 that number decreased to 5,000. Ollayos feels this decline was a result of more women having the Pap test.
Challenges
Army Lt. Col. Pauline Knapp gave the final presentation of the series.
Knapp is the assistant executive officer to the Army Surgeon General in Falls Church, Va. At the time of her presentation, she commanded the 56th Evacuation Battalion at Ft. Bragg, N.C. Knapp has been deployed in Southwest Asia, Bosnia, and Somalia. Through her slides and stories, the audience received a first-hand account of the challenges women face while deployed. Some of these challenges are living conditions, family separation, the proximity and type of health care available, expectations, and how the surrounding culture views women.
Knapp does not feel any changes are necessary to accommodate women in the military. "I recommend that classes should be given on how to adjust under various environments and conditions for both genders," said Knapp. "Classes should include survival techniques, personal hygiene, personal relationships, etc."
"The Changing Face of Women's Health" was recently removed from the National Museum of Health and Medicine and is currently on display at The Franklin Institute Science Museum in Philadelphia, Pa. The exhibit features interactive and multi-media techniques, companion programs, and educator outreach materials devoted exclusively to women's health issues.
