“How did that happen?” Public responses to women with mobility disability during pregnancy

Abstract

Background Little is known about current societal attitudes toward women with significant mobility disability who are visibly pregnant. Objective To use qualitative descriptive analysis methods to examine perceptions of women with significant mobility disability about how strangers reacted to their visible pregnancies. Methods In late 2013, we conducted 2-h telephone interviews with 22 women with significant mobility difficulties who had delivered babies within the prior 10 years. The semi-structured, open-ended interview protocol addressed wide-ranging pregnancy-related topics, including statements from strangers. Most participants were recruited through social networks, coming from 17 states nationwide. We used NVivo to sort the texts for content analysis. Results The women’s mean (standard deviation) age was 34.8 (5.3) years; most were white, well-educated, and higher income, although half had Medicaid during their pregnancies; and 18 used wheeled mobility aids. Eighteen women described memorable interactions with strangers relating to their pregnancies or newborn babies. Strangers’ statements fell into six categories: (1) curious; (2) intrusively and persistently curious; (3) hostile, including concerns that taxpayers would end up supporting the mother and child; (4) questioning woman’s competence as a potential parent; (5) oblivious, not recognizing visible pregnancy or motherhood; and (6) positive. Many women reported strangers asking how their pregnancy had happened. The women doubted that visibly pregnant women without disabilities evoke the same reactions from strangers. Conclusions Women with mobility disability who are visibly pregnant may perceive reactions from strangers that appear intrusive. Planning ahead for handling such encounters could reduce the stresses of these interactions.

Perinatal Experiences of Women With Physical Disabilities and Their Recommendations for Clinicians

“…The resulting lack of clinicians’ knowledge puts WWPD at higher risk during pregnancy than women without disabilities. Many of these women are at higher risk for complications of pregnancy than other women because of complex health issues related to their disability (Iezzoni, Yu et al, 2014, 2015; Mitra et al, 2016a; Signore, Spong, Krotoski, Shinowara, & Blackwell, 2011). Although some of the issues identified by the women in this study may also occur in women without disabilities, the WWPD who participated specifically addressed the issues within the context of having a physical disability.…”

“…Despite the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act 25 years ago, individuals with disabilities, including those with physical disabilities, continue to experience barriers to health care (Peacock, Iezzoni & Harkin, 2015); the negative effects of these barriers extend to pregnant women with physical disabilities. A growing body of research has demonstrated that women with disabilities have unmet needs and experience complications related to pregnancy and childbearing that are uncommon in women without disabilities (Iezzoni, Yu, Wint, Smeltzer, & Ecker, 2014, 2015; Mitra, Clements, Zhang, & Smith, 2016a; Mitra, Long-Bellil, Iezzoni, Smeltzer, & Smith, 2015). Women with physical disabilities (WWPD) reported negative attitudes toward them from acquaintances as well as strangers (Iezzoni, Wint, Smeltzer, & Ecker, 2015a; Nosek, Rintala, Howland, Foley, & Bennett, 1995).…”

Experiences of midwifery students, about to give care for women with disability<p>Ebelik öğrencilerinin engelli kadınlara bakım verme deneyimleri

“…Fiziksel engelli olmasına rağmen, ebeveyn olmak ve çocuk yetiştirmek isteyen kadın sayısı da artmıştır (Başgöl ve Oskay, 2015;Timur vd., 2006;Iezzoni et al, 2015).…”

“…Bu görmezden gelmenin başlıca nedenlerinden biri konuyla ilgili yeterli bilgi sahibi olunmamasıdır (Başgöl ve Oskay, 2015;Timur vd., 2006;Iezzoni et al, 2015). Bu nedenle fiziksel engelli anne adayları doğum öncesi, doğum ve doğum sonrası dönemlerde çeşitli sorunlarla karşılaşmaktadırlar.…”

“…Tüm hastaların bakımında etik ve profesyonel mesleki sorumlulukları olan ebeler fiziksel engelli hasta bakımında da bütüncül yaklaşımı amaçlamalı ve engelli kadınların gereksinim duydukları sağlık bakım hizmetlerinin giderilmesinde gereken desteği ve danışmanlığı sağlamalıdır. Fiziksel engelli anne adaylarının doğum öncesi, doğum ve doğum sonrası dönemlerde karşılaştıkları sorunların çözümünde önemli rolleri olan ebelerin mezuniyet öncesi engelli kadınların üreme sağlığı sorunlarına yönelik ders alması meslek hayatlarını kolaylaştıracaktır ve engelli kadınlara karşı farkındalığın oluşması engelli kadınların sorunlarının çözümünde önemli bir adım olacaktır (Başgöl ve Oskay, 2015;Iezzoni et al, 2015;TÜİK 2010).…”