Reproductive health care experiences of women with physical disabilities: A qualitative study

Becker, Heather; Stuifbergen, Alexa K.; Tinkle, Mindy B.

doi:10.1016/s0003-9993(97)90218-5

Cited by 213 publications

(175 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…This study confirms in physicians' own words what research with women with disabilities in the critical disability studies literature has reported for decades: (i) there are many barriers to equal access for women with disabilities to health promotion (Becker et al, 1997;Beckmann et al, 1989;Gibson & Mykitiuk, 2012;Kroll et al, 2006;Nosek et al, 1995 want to be seen (Linton, 1998;Oliver, 1990;Shakespeare, 2006Shakespeare, , 2014; (iii) physicians lack of awareness of their legal obligation to provide accommodation for women with disabilities (Frazee et al, 2006;Gibson & Mykitiuk, 2012); and (iv) critical disability studies, including the social model of disability must become prominent in all levels of undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, with the educators being persons with disabilities (Linton, 1998;Carla Rice, 2012;C. Rice et al, 2017;Shakespeare, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…These perceptions of physicians may explain their tendency to not provide information regarding contraception and sexually transmitted diseases to disabled women (Becker et al, 1997;Beckmann et al, 1989;Gibson & Mykitiuk, 2012;Nosek et al, 1995). The critical disability studies literature also draws attention to the barrier that physicians perceive that disabled women are heterosexual (Basson, 1998;Kallianes & Rubenfeld, 1997).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Physicians' Perceptions of Barriers to Equal Access to Reproductive Health Promotion for Women with Mobility Impairment

Joseph¹,

Saravanabavan²,

Nisker

2018

CJDS

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In Canada, 15% of women report having a disability, most frequently mobility-related. Research with women with disabilities has for decades brought attention to barriers to reproductive health promotion. Research with physicians regarding why these barriers exist and how they can be dissolved has not occurred. Physicians were recruited through email and pamphlets to participate in 30-45 minute in-person interviews, audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Charmaz-based qualitative analysis was supported by NVivo10 TM software. Twenty-five interviews were conducted before theoretical sufficiency. Six themes were co-constructed: I-Physicians' Perceptions of Barriers; II-Physicians' Perceptions of Consequences of Barriers; III-Resolving Barriers; IV-Physicians' Sub-Understanding of Legal Right to Accommodation; V-Obligation of Physicians to Advocate for Accommodation; and VI-Language Suggesting Physicians' Lack of Understanding of How Persons with Disabilities See Themselves and Want to be Seen. Physicians identified physical access barriers previously identified in critical disability studies literature, but did not identify the barriers of physician attitudes and lack of information provision as reported in this literature. Physicians perceived their additional time for pap smears and other surveillance strategies as barriers, particularly when not remunerated. Physicians were unaware of their legal obligation to accommodate under human rights codes, perceiving that taking extra time to provide accommodation was doing so out of the "goodness of your heart". Physicians used language illustrating many were unaware of how disabled persons see themselves and want to be seen. Education regarding disability rights and culture must be introduced immediately and prominently into all levels of medical education, with the educators being people with disabilities.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Physicians' Perceptions of Barriers to Equal Access to Reproductive Health Promotion for Women with Mobility Impairment

Joseph¹,

Saravanabavan²,

Nisker

2018

CJDS

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“…Parents do not usually speak with their disabled daughters on the topic of sexuality, and this conveys, for them, the message that disabled women are not able to be sexually desirable, 16 which is often reinforced by the deterioration of their self-esteem and self-image. 9,17 The overprotective family environment can deprive these children of their privacy and independence, hindering the acquisition of sexual knowledge.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual issues in a sample of women with spinal cord injury

et al. 2004

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Study design: Semistructured interview. Objectives: To assess the degree of participation in sexual intercourse of a sample of women with spinal cord injury (SCI) in our community, to establish to what extent their sexual lives have been affected in comparison to before the injury, and to search for those factors that may have a major influence on both aspects. Setting: Spinal Cord Injuries Unit, A Corun˜a, Spain. Participants: A total of 37 women, average age 40 years, time since onset average 10 years. Results: In all, 62% claimed regular sexual activity after the injury. The women who suffered the injury before reaching the age of 18 years run a higher risk of not having physical relationships than those who were above that age when they incurred the SCI (P ¼ 0.04, OR 4.75). We discovered a significant drop in the frequency of intercourse (P ¼ 0.003) and the ability to reach an orgasm (P ¼ 0.008), after the injury. Of these women, 69% were satisfied with their current sexual activity and 77.4% considered the information they received from their doctors on the changes the SCI would cause in their sexuality to be either insufficient or nonexistent. Conclusions: There is a noticeable decrease in the frequency of intercourse as well as a significant reduction in the capability of reaching orgasm. Despite these changes and problems that ensue during intercourse as a result, most show satisfaction with their current sexual lives. On the other hand, the occurence of the injury before the age of 18 years may imply a greater risk of not having an active sex life in adult years. We consider it is essential to provide the appropriate sexual information during the process of rehabilitation, aimed at helping women with SCI to adapt to their new situation.Spinal Cord (2005) 43, 51-55.

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“…3 Prior studies have documented that people with disabilities face disparities in health and healthcare as compared to people without disabilities. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] Though some studies assessing healthcare disparities for adults with developmental disabilities have included participants on the autism spectrum, with the exception of one small study using administrative data, 21 they do not report results separately for autistic participants. Most studies also primarily include participants with intellectual disabilities, and may not be generalizable to the full range of individuals now recognized as on the autism spectrum, a majority of whom do not have an intellectual disability.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Healthcare Experiences in Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey Facilitated by an Academic-Community Partnership

et al. 2012

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Reproductive health care experiences of women with physical disabilities: A qualitative study

Cited by 213 publications

References 7 publications

Physicians' Perceptions of Barriers to Equal Access to Reproductive Health Promotion for Women with Mobility Impairment

Physicians' Perceptions of Barriers to Equal Access to Reproductive Health Promotion for Women with Mobility Impairment

Sexual issues in a sample of women with spinal cord injury

Comparison of Healthcare Experiences in Autistic and Non-Autistic Adults: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey Facilitated by an Academic-Community Partnership

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