Gender-specific Barriers Research Articles

O28 EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF STRUCTURED TRAINING COURSE ON HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS FOR HYPERTENSION MANAGEMENT

Background: This study explores how structured training program enhances healthcare professionals’ awareness of lifestyle modifications for hypertension. Assessing its impact on both knowledge and patient guidance, with an aim to improve healthcare delivery by equipping professionals with informed strategies for lifestyle modification. Design and Methods: A quasi-experimental design was employed with sample size of 750 HCPs. The Hypertension Knowledge-Level Scale (HK-LS), a modified questionnaire based on guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO), was utilized to assess participants’ understanding of hypertension, knowledge of lifestyle modification, and clinical practice. A 12-week online course comprising seven modules was delivered to the HCPs, followed by pre- and post-tests to measure changes in knowledge regarding lifestyle modifications. Results: The analysis revealed a substantial increase in HCPs knowledge levels post-intervention compared to pre-intervention regarding hypertension (t = 4.90, p = 0.001), lifestyle modification (t = 3.62, p = 0.001), and their proficiency in offering lifestyle advice to patients (t = 3.56, p = 0.001). In addition to these positive outcomes among HCPs, the intervention also highlighted significant gender disparities in attendance and outcomes among participants. Females exhibited a higher attendance rate of 75% compared to males, with consequent improvements in practice, while males showed a more substantial enhancement in knowledge levels post-intervention. These findings underscore the importance of addressing gender-specific barriers to improvement, such as socio-cultural factors for females and preconceived notions for males, to optimize the effectiveness of future interventions in promoting healthier behaviors and outcomes. Conclusions: Structured training programs are imperative for enhancing HCPs’ knowledge of lifestyle modification, particularly in the context of hypertension, as a crucial component of primary prevention strategies. This signifies the effectiveness of the structured training program in enhancing HCPs’ comprehension of hypertension management and their ability to guide patients toward adopting healthier lifestyles.

Influence of Workplace Mentorship Programs on Gender Diversity in Leadership in Kenya

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze influence of workplace mentorship programs on gender diversity in leadership in Kenya. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: Research on the influence of workplace mentorship programs on gender diversity in leadership in Kenya highlights several key findings. Studies indicate that mentorship programs significantly enhance the representation of women in leadership roles by providing guidance, networking opportunities, and skill development tailored to address gender-specific barriers. These programs foster a supportive environment where women can gain confidence and visibility, which translates into increased career advancement. The effectiveness of such programs is often amplified by their focus on addressing systemic biases and promoting inclusive practices within organizations. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Social learning theory, role congruity theory & transformational leadership theory may be used to anchor future studies on the influence of workplace mentorship programs on gender diversity in leadership in Kenya. Organizations should implement mentorship programs tailored to the specific needs of women in different sectors and career stages. Policymakers and organizations should develop and enforce structured mentorship policies that include regular evaluations, clear objectives, and accountability measures.

Gender-Specific Barriers Faced by Women in Attaining Leadership Positions at NMB Bank PLC

Gender-Specific Barriers Faced by Women in Attaining Leadership Positions at NMB Bank PLC

An Intersectional Analysis of Gender-Specific Barriers to Adolescent Health Literacy in South Africa

Various studies have shown that influencing factors such as gender, race, and socio-economic status could significantly impact adolescents’ health literacy in South Africa. The adolescent stage is crucial for acquiring and developing health-promoting knowledge and behaviors. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the gender-specific determinants that prevent adolescents from accessing, understanding, and utilizing health-related information and services through an intersectionality theoretical lens. This study used content analysis of secondary data from 2010 until 2023 from electronic databases such as SciELO, Google Scholar, the Directory of Open Access Journals, Scopus, and governmental reports. From the initial 102 articles and documents obtained from the search process, a total of 26 papers were included in this study. The results indicated that gender roles, cultural norms, heteronormativity, gender-based violence, and associated stigmatization are gender-specific barriers to adolescents’ health literacy in South Africa. Based on the study findings, I argue that multi-stakeholder engagement is needed to address the identified barriers and collaboratively develop and implement a gender-responsive health literacy programme that promotes equitable and non-judgmental access for young people to health information and services in South Africa.

Wiidookaage'win: Beta-test of a Facebook group intervention for Native women to support opioid use recovery

IntroductionThe ongoing opioid misuse epidemic has had a marked impact on American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Culture- and gender-specific barriers to medically assisted recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD) have been identified, exacerbating its impact for AI/AN women. Wiidookaage’win is a community-based participatory research study that aims to develop a culturally tailored, moderated, private Facebook group intervention to support Minnesotan AI/AN women in medically assisted recovery from OUD. The current study assessed the preliminary feasibility and acceptability of the intervention in a beta-test to inform refinements before conducting a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT). MethodsThe intervention was beta-tested for 30 days. Moderators were trained prior to delivering the intervention. Study assessments were conducted at baseline and post-intervention. The post-intervention assessments included substance use (self-report and urine drug screen), treatment acceptability, mental health, and spirituality outcomes. We examined intervention engagement patterns using Facebook metrics and qualitatively explored common topics that emerged in participant posts and comments. ResultsTen AI/AN women taking medication for OUD (MOUD) were accrued (age range 25–62 years). Participants had been in opioid recovery a mean of 15.2 months (SD = 16.1; range = 3–60). The study participation rate (accrued/eligible) was 91 %. Nine participants completed the post-intervention survey assessment and eight completed a UDS. Acceptability was high based on the mean treatment satisfaction score (M = 4.8, SD = 0.2 out of a possible 5.0), Facebook group engagement, and positive qualitative feedback. All participants retained at post-intervention continued their MOUD treatment, and none had returned to opioid use. ConclusionsThe beta-test indicated that the Facebook platform and study procedures generally worked as intended and that the intervention was largely acceptable to study participants. The results of this study phase provided valuable insights to inform refinements prior to conducting a pilot RCT to further assess the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of the intervention.

Women’s entrepreneurship education: a systematic review and future agenda

PurposeIn this systematic review of the literature on women’s entrepreneurship education, this paper aims to examine the current state of the field. The authors analyze publication trends, identify major themes and propose an agenda for future research.Design/methodology/approachThe authors review 363 articles published between 1993 and 2023, to develop a synthesized overview of women’s entrepreneurship education, complete with insights into the journals that have provided the most coverage of this topic, as well as how it has emerged over time.FindingsThe authors tracked the evolution of research themes and collaboration networks over a 30-year period. Results show there has been significant growth in research on women’s entrepreneurship education, as evidenced by a surge of publications on the topic and the total number of citations.Originality/valueThe authors categorized and analyzed six thematic clusters within the literature: entrepreneurial intention, ethical perspectives, gender-specific barriers, gender stereotypes, rural entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Building on these thematic clusters, this study discusses future research directions to advance the field.

Impact of Microcredit on Income and Social Status of Rural Women Microentrepreneurs in Southeast Nigeria

This study investigates the impact of microcredit on poverty reduction and social status enhancement among rural women microentrepreneurs in patriarchal Southeast Nigeria. The objective is to assess whether microcredit improves economic conditions and elevates social standing within a traditionally patriarchal society. Employing a quantitative approach, the study surveyed 340 rural women who have accessed microcredit across four states in Southeast Nigeria. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate the effects of microcredit on income generation and social status. The findings reveal that while microcredit significantly boosts income generation, its impact on social status is less pronounced, constrained by persistent patriarchal norms and limited supportive measures. To address this limited impact, it is recommended that microcredit programs be complemented with comprehensive social support services. Such initiatives should focus on improving community relationships and addressing gender-specific barriers within the socio-cultural context. By integrating these support mechanisms, microcredit programs can more effectively enhance both the economic and social standing of women, fostering a more supportive environment for their empowerment.

Gender disparities in the mediating role of symptom knowledge level in reducing acute coronary syndrome (ACS) decision delay: Findings from a community-based study in China

BackgroundImplementing training programs to educate patients on the prodromal symptoms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) may assist patients in accurately recognizing these symptoms, and ultimately decrease their time delay in seeking emergency medical services (EMS). However, the effectiveness of this approach remains uncertain, particularly among the Chinese population.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted within 22 communities in Beijing, China between 2015 and 2018, with a total of 1099 participants recruited. The study utilized a standardized questionnaire to evaluate the presence of intentional decision delay in turning to EMS under a hypothetical chest pain, the participants’ knowledge of ACS prodromal symptoms, and whether they had ever received any training programs aimed at increasing their symptom knowledge. Mediation analysis was performed with regression models and bootstrapping methods, and gender difference was further analyzed through moderated mediation analysis.ResultsA total of 1099 participants (58.2% female, median [IQR] age 34 [20]) were included in the study. The results of the mediation analysis indicated that training programs were associated with a decrease risk in decision delay, with increased knowledge playing a mediating role (mediation effect/total effect = 36.59%, P < 0.0001). Gender modified this mediation effect, with it being observed only in the male group. Specifically, training programs were not found to significantly decrease decision delay among females (P > 0.05), even though they did improve women’s knowledge of ACS prodromal symptoms (β = 0.57, P = 0.012).ConclusionThe results suggested a relationship between prior training programs and reduced decision delay, with increased knowledge of prodromal symptoms of ACS serving as a mediator. However, the effect was only observed in male participants and not in female participants. This highlights the notion that mere transfer of knowledge regarding ACS prodromal symptoms may not be sufficient to mitigate decision delay in the female population. Further research is needed to corroborate these results and to gain deeper insights into the gender-specific barriers encountered in this study.

Trauma and Substance Use Disorder: Breaking the Cycle in Women

Trauma and substance use disorder present a complex and intertwined challenge, particularly affecting women who experience unique gender-specific barriers to recovery. Understanding how substance use functions as a coping mechanism for the effects of trauma is imperative to developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. Barriers to recovery in women with trauma and substance use disorder include criminalization of substance use, gender-specific stigma toward substance use, and physiological effects of trauma on coping and resilience. Breaking the cycle of trauma and substance use disorder in women requires a holistic, multifaceted approach that underscores eliminating stigma, promoting resilience, and increasing supportive community.

Women Migrant Returnees as Intermediaries: Exploring Empowerment and Agency of Migrant Women Returnees in the EU-MENA Region

AbstractThis article investigates the experiences of women’s migrant returnees in the EU-MENA region. It aims to elucidate their navigation of the complexities associated with return and their contributions to the development and empowerment of local women, migrant women, and prospective returnees. It recognizes that women’s migration journeys entail a multitude of challenges, including gender-specific barriers, social norms, cultural expectations, and legal and institutional constraints. Nevertheless, it argues that women’s returns can serve as a transformative process that enhances opportunities for women’s empowerment and agency, particularly as intermediaries of women’s migration. By bridging the knowledge and resource gaps between the EU and MENA regions, these women have the potential to provide valuable insights that inform policies and practices related to migration, development, and gender equality. Additionally, analyzing the dynamics of empowerment and agency among women’s migrant returnees contributes to broader discussions on gender, migration, and social change. To achieve its objectives, this study employed qualitative research methods, including case studies, comparative analysis, and in-depth interviews. By prioritizing the voices and narratives of women’s migrant returnees, this study ensures a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of their experiences, aspirations, and contributions to the field of women’s migration.

Utilization of Outpatient Psychotherapy and Outpatient Psychiatric Treatment by Men and Women after Inpatient Treatment due to Suicide Attempt or Acute Suicidal Crisis

The strongest predictor of suicide attempts is a previous suicide attempt. Individuals hospitalized for suicidal ideation and behavior face an increased risk of suicide following discharge. This study investigates the extent to which outpatient treatment services are utilized the first 6 months after discharge and whether men and women differ in this regard. The study examines data of 124 individuals (with suicide attempts (lifetime), 59.7% female) on the use of outpatient treatment services in the 6 months after inpatient treatment. 37.9% (N=47) of individuals reported not having used any treatment services at all. Men were significantly less likely to make use of the services. Members of a group with an increased risk of suicide, to a large extent, fail to make use of outpatient treatment services. Discharge management should increasingly focus on (gender-specific) barriers and pave the way for treatment in outpatient.

Perceived barriers to seeking treatment for alcohol use disorders among the general Danish population – a cross sectional study on the role of severity of alcohol use and gender

BackgroundA minority of all individuals with alcohol use disorders (AUD) seek treatment. Since the suffering from AUD has severe consequences for both the individual and for society, it is important to improve the understanding of barriers to seeking treatment. Most studies of barriers thus far have been conducted in the United States of America or the United Kingdom. There is a need for studies from other contexts. The overall aim is to investigate barriers to treatment seeking for AUD. The specific aims are to: 1) describe barriers to AUD treatment at different levels of alcohol use. 2) compare gender differences regarding barriers to AUD treatment.MethodsStudy design: Cross-sectional. Participants: 1594 representative Danish adults from the general population aged 30–65 years. An online questionnaire was administrated by a market research company. The questionnaire covered demographic data, barriers to treatment and level of alcohol use. Analyses were performed by means of chi-2 test and logistic regression.ResultsThe most common barriers were related to stigma and shame: admitting to others of having a problem, being labelled, fear of the consequences and that others would find out. Participants with higher severity of alcohol use were more likely to endorse a wish to handle alcohol problems themselves and to report barriers related to treatment services. Women with high severity of alcohol use, endorsed higher level of fear of the consequences than men.ConclusionsThere is an urgent need to reduce stigma around AUD. Individuals with higher severity of alcohol use report a lower willingness to seek professional treatment if a problem occurs. Especially among individuals with high severity of alcohol use there is a need to address gender specific barriers.

Barriers to opioid use disorder treatment: A comparison of self-reported information from social media with barriers found in literature.

Medications such as buprenorphine and methadone are effective for treating opioid use disorder (OUD), but many patients face barriers related to treatment and access. We analyzed two sources of data-social media and published literature-to categorize and quantify such barriers. In this mixed methods study, we analyzed social media (Reddit) posts from three OUD-related forums (subreddits): r/suboxone, r/Methadone, and r/naltrexone. We applied natural language processing to identify posts relevant to treatment barriers, categorized them into insurance- and non-insurance-related, and manually subcategorized them into fine-grained topics. For comparison, we used substance use-, OUD- and barrier-related keywords to identify relevant articles from PubMed published between 2006 and 2022. We searched publications for language expressing fear of barriers, and hesitation or disinterest in medication treatment because of barriers, paying particular attention to the affected population groups described. On social media, the top three insurance-related barriers included having no insurance (22.5%), insurance not covering OUD treatment (24.7%), and general difficulties of using insurance for OUD treatment (38.2%); while the top two non-insurance-related barriers included stigma (47.6%), and financial difficulties (26.2%). For published literature, stigma was the most prominently reported barrier, occurring in 78.9% of the publications reviewed, followed by financial and/or logistical issues to receiving medication treatment (73.7%), gender-specific barriers (36.8%), and fear (31.5%). The stigma associated with OUD and/or seeking treatment and insurance/cost are the two most common types of barriers reported in the two sources combined. Harm reduction efforts addressing barriers to recovery may benefit from leveraging multiple data sources.

Addressing Barriers to Career Development Awards for Early Career Women in Pediatric Psychology.

To provide person and system-level recommendations for supporting early career women in the field of pediatric psychology in writing and submitting National Institutes of Health (NIH) Career Development Award (K award) applications. Recommendations are provided in the context of common barriers, with a focus on practical solutions. Publicly available NIH reporter data were compiled to examine rates of funding for Society of Pediatric Psychology (SPP) members. Barriers that women face when initiating programs of research are described and applied to the field of pediatric psychology. Of current SPP members, 3.9% (n = 50) have ever received an NIH K award. Approximately 88.5% of SPP members identify as women, including 89.0% of SPP K award recipients. A table of person- and systems-level recommendations is provided to offer strategies for mentees, mentors/sponsors, institutions, and national organizations to address the barriers discussed. By addressing gender-specific barriers to submitting K award applications, we hope to increase the number of women K awardees and support the scientific advancement of pediatric psychology.

The right to food and substantive equality as complementary frameworks in addressing women's food insecurity

AbstractIn international human rights law, the right to food has become a widely accepted legal and normative framework for tackling the problem of food insecurity. However, as currently formulated, the right to food is insufficient as a framework to tackle gender-specific barriers that impede women's access to food, which has contributed to the persistence of women's food insecurity globally. While the equal enjoyment of the right to food is guaranteed by the non-discrimination and equality provisions in international law, this notion of equality, associated with the formal equality approach, fails to recognise and address women's historical experience of systemic discrimination. This article argues that women's food insecurity should be approached from a broader formulation of the right to food that is informed by a substantive equality perspective, drawing from contemporary interpretations and elucidations by human rights bodies which have pushed for a more substantive notion of equality.

EXPLORING EXPERIENCES OF GENDER BIAS IN ORTHOPAEDIC TRAINING IN NEW ZEALAND

This qualitative study aims to explore and highlight the experiences of trainees in the Orthopaedic Surgical Education Training (SET) program in New Zealand, with a focus on identifying gender-specific biases which may impact professional development.Orthopaedic SET trainees in New Zealand were invited to complete a qualitative, semi-structured questionnaire exploring their experiences in the Orthopaedic SET program. A broad range of topics were covered, addressing culture, belonging, learning styles and role modelling. Recurrent themes were identified using inductive methods.Analysis of questionnaire responses identified several key themes for women in the Orthopaedic SET program, compared to their male counterparts, including (1) role incredulity, (2) confidence vs. competence, (3) adaptation, (4) interdisciplinary relationships and (5) role modelling. Female participants described experiencing gender bias or discrimination by both patients and interdisciplinary colleagues at a higher rate than their male counterparts. The majority of female participants described feeling as competent as their male counterparts at the same SET level, however, identified that they do not typically exhibit the same confidence in their surgical abilities. Whilst similar numbers of female and male participants described experiencing barriers to career progression, female participants described having to adapt both physically and socially to overcome additional gender-specific barriers. Positive influences on training experience included role modelling and supportive relationships amongst trainee groups.This study highlighted gender-specific biases experienced by trainees in the Orthopaedic SET program in New Zealand. Further investigation is warranted to determine how these experiences affect professional development, and how they may be addressed to foster increased gender equity in the surgical profession. This will likely require system-level interventions to create meaningful and sustainable culture change.

Gender Differences in Unhealthy Lifestyle Behaviors among Adults with Diabetes in the United States between 1999 and 2018.

Lifestyle management is important to patients with diabetes, but whether gender differences exist in lifestyle management is unclear. Data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1999 to 2018) was used for this research. Gender differences were evaluated descriptively and using an odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). A total of 8412 participants (48% women) were finally included. Across these surveys, the incidences of poor diet (OR: 1.26 (95% CI, 1.12, 1.43)), smoking (1.58 (1.35, 1.84)), alcohol consumption (1.94 (1.68, 2.25)) and sedentary behavior (1.20 (1.04, 1.39)) were more common in men, while depression (0.47 (0.37, 0.59)), obesity (0.69 (0.61, 0.78)) and insufficient physical activity (0.56 (0.49, 0.65)) were more common in women. Reductions in poor diet were greater in men between 1999 and 2000 and 2017 and 2018 (p = 0.037), while the mean body mass index (BMI) levels (p = 0.019) increased more among women. Furthermore, several gender differences were found to be related to age, race/ethnicity and marital/insurance/employment statuses. Our research found gender differences in diabetes-related unhealthy lifestyle behaviors and provides reference data for implementing measures to reduce the gender differences. Further work to reduce gender-specific barriers to a healthy lifestyle is warranted in order to further improve diabetes management.

COVID-19, Trade Disruptions, and Gender: A Survey of the Potential Interactions and Consequences for Economic Development in Sub-Saharan Africa

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to significantly reduce trade flows due to global trade restrictions and economic lockdowns. The impact of a trade disruption is, however, not gender neutral. In developing countries, women form the majority of low-skilled and labor-intensive jobs in the export sector that are most affected by the pandemic. This article is based on a literature review that explores research on the gendered implications of trade on economic development. It also discusses the effects of previous epidemics on health and human capital in Africa. It outlines the various channels through which a pandemic-induced trade shock could have and has had ripple effects on African women. It provides some early evidence on the gendered impact of the current pandemic. Analysis of the literature reviewed highlights the importance of collecting and using gender-disaggregated trade data to devise socioeconomic and export trade policies in the short-term and long-term to protect vulnerable populations including women. The article concludes that the pandemic can be used as an opportunity for sub-Saharan Africa countries to build back better after COVID-19 by strengthening intraregional trade through the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), investing in removal of gender-specific barriers facing female traders and entrepreneurs, and promoting gender mainstreaming in trade to drive sustainable development and sow the seeds of future resilience.

Report card grades on physical activity for children and adolescents from 18 Asian countries: Patterns, trends, gaps, and future recommendations

Background/ObjectivePhysical inactivity is a persistent and worsening population health concern in Asia. Led by the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance, Global Matrix (GM) initiative provides an opportunity to explore how regional and cultural differences across 18 Asian countries relate to physical activity (PA) participation among children and adolescents. The purpose of study was to synthesize evidence from the GM2.0 to GM4.0 (2016–2022) in Asian countries. MethodsReport Card grades on behavioral/individual and sources of influence indicators were reported from 18 Asian countries. Letter grades were converted into numerical values for quantitative analyses. Based on this, cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were conducted to investigate patterns and trends. Qualitative evidence synthesis was performed based on Report Card grades and published papers to identify gaps and suggest future recommendations. ResultsIn total, 18 countries provided grades for at least one round of GM, 12 countries provided grades for at least two rounds, and seven countries provided grades for all three GMs. Of possible grades, 72.8%, 69.2%, and 76.9% of the grades were assigned from GM 2.0 to GM 4.0, respectively. In terms of the Report Card grades, there was a slight decrease in behavioral/individual indicators from “D+” in GM 2.0 to “D-” in GM 3.0 but this reverted to “D” in GM 4.0. For the sources of influence, a “C” grade was given in all three rounds of GM. Longitudinal observation of seven Asian countries that provided grades in all three rounds of GM revealed that grades are generally stable for all indicators with some country-specific fluctuations. In future GM initiatives and research, considerations should be made to provide more accurate and rich data and to better understand contextual challenges in evaluating certain indicators such as Active Transportation, Active Play, and Physical Fitness in particular. Further, macro level factors such as socioeconomic/cultural disparities and gender-specific barriers, ideology, or climate change should also be proactively considered in future research as these factors are becoming increasingly relevant to indicators of GM and United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals. ConclusionsParticipation from Asian countries in GM has increased over the years, which demonstrates the region's enthusiasm, capacity, and support for global PA promotion efforts. The efforts to promote a physically active lifestyle among children and adolescents should be a collective interest and priority of the Asia region based on the gaps identified in this paper.

Getting Connected: a Retrospective Cohort Investigation of Video-to-Home Telehealth for Mental Health Care Utilization Among Women Veterans

BackgroundIncreasingly, women are serving in the military and seeking care at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Women veterans face unique challenges and barriers in seeking mental health (MH) care within VHA. VA Video Connect (VVC), which facilitates video-based teleconferencing between patients and providers, can reduce barriers while maintaining clinical effectiveness.ObjectivePrimary aims were to examine gender differences in VVC use, describe changes in VVC use over time (including pre-COVID and 6 months following the beginning of COVID), and determine whether changes over time differed by gender.DesignA retrospective cohort investigation of video-to-home telehealth for MH care utilization among veterans having at least 1 MH visit from October 2019 to September 2020.ParticipantsVeterans (236,268 women; 1,318,024 men).Interventions (if applicable)VVC involves face-to-face, synchronous, video-based teleconferencing between patients and providers, enabling care at home or another private location.Main MeasuresPercentage of MH encounters delivered via VA Video Connect.Key ResultsWomen veterans were more likely than men to have at least 1 VVC encounter and had a greater percentage of MH care delivered via VVC in FY20. There was an increase in the percentage of MH encounters that were VVC over FY20, and this increase was greater for women than men. Women veterans who were younger than 55 (compared to those 55 and older), lived in urban areas (compared to those in rural areas), or were Asian (compared to other races) had a greater percentage of MH encounters that were VVC since the start of the pandemic, controlling for the mean percentage of VVC MH encounters in the 6 months pre-pandemic.ConclusionsVVC use for MH care is greater in women veterans compared to male veterans and may reduce gender-specific access barriers. Future research and VVC implementation efforts should emphasize maximizing patient choice and satisfaction.