Health Effects of the Vietnam War on Soldiers and Civilians

Abstract

This paper is about how the Vietnam War affected the health of soldiers and civilians. My research question for this topic is, how do the consequences of war affect the health of those directly and indirectly involved? This question is important to study as much of the literature I read in the past was primarily about the American point-of-view during the war, and less detail regarding the full extent of how the citizens and soldiers of were affected. Knowing how much damage was done to not only the American soldiers but to the people of Vietnam helps us understand why this war was so devastating when it comes to the long-term health of the people involved. The variables addressed in this study are the different types of health effects sustained by the soldiers and civilians, which are discussed in the case presentation section. PTSD, addiction, various birth defects, reproductive issues physical disabilities, and death are the main health effects discussed. The methods I used to answer my research question are through analyzing different case studies, civilian health testimonies (included in a case study), and photo evidence from the war’s on-site medical treatment. The conclusions reached confirmed by hypotheses to be true and have answered my question about specifically how the health of American soldiers, Vietnamese soldiers, and Vietnamese civilians was affected by the Vietnam War. My conclusions range from proving the severity of how war impacts health immediately and over time to the privilege of having access to certain forms of treatment compared to those who do not have that privilege during combat. The war had not only impacted the lives of these people as it was ongoing, but it continued to do so years after it had ended, which shows how severe the consequences of war are on humans.