Combat-genital injury in UK male military veterans: a pilot and feasibility study exploring long-term psychosocial and sexual experiences and support needs

Keeling, Mary ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3049-6022 and Hammond, Natalie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3340-2992 (2024) Combat-genital injury in UK male military veterans: a pilot and feasibility study exploring long-term psychosocial and sexual experiences and support needs. Journal of Military Social Work and Behavioral Health Services, 12 (2). pp. 166-177. ISSN 2836-7472

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Abstract

During the most recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, genital injuries were reported among male personnel at rates higher than previous conflicts. To date, research has focused predominantly on immediate medical management with limited published research exploring the long-term psychosocial and sexual impacts of combat-genital injury. This pilot study, therefore, aimed to explore the psychosocial and sexual health outcomes, experiences and support needs of military veterans who sustained combat-genital injuries and to assess the feasibility of conducting further research on this topic. A cross-sectional online survey design was used, comprising open and closed questions. Recruited through opportunity and snowball sampling, 11 eligible male UK veterans who had sustained a combat-genital injury completed the survey between March and July 2021. The results indicate that participants experienced long-term challenges related to their genital injury including low self-esteem, sexual function difficulties, and fertility concerns. The findings provide preliminary evidence of unmet long-term psychosocial, sexual, and fertility support needs among UK veterans with combat-genital injury. Further research is required to better understand the psychosexual wellbeing of combat veterans who have sustained physical injuries more broadly and to determine how best to provide psychosexual support to those who may benefit.