Experiences of Women With Disabilities in Accessing and Receiving Contraceptive Care.
Willi Horner-Johnson, Krystal A Klein, Jan Campbell and 1 others
PMID 34389287WHAT IT FOUND
Women with disabilities described contraceptive visits as blocked by inaccessible exam tables, missing interpreters, rushed appointments, dismissive staff, and limited insurance.
Some did get respectful care when clinicians asked what they wanted.
Key findings
01Three themes emerged from the focus groups: accessibility and accommodations, clinician attitudes, and health insurance.
02Participants reported negative attitudes about sexuality and disrespectful behavior from clinicians and clinic staff, and in some cases these behaviors interfered with access to desired contraceptive methods.
03Health insurance was a major barrier across disability groups, with concerns about Medicaid and Medicare restrictions limiting contraceptive options.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The findings are self-reported experiences, not triangulated with health care records or observed visits. Participants chose to take part, so they may have had stronger feelings or opinions than women who did not participate. Only one focus group was held for each broad disability category, and the study did not continue until new themes stopped appearing. Most participants were non-Hispanic White and had college education, so the findings may not represent women with lower education or other backgrounds. The study did not include women with more than one type of disability or more than one marginalized identity.
Declared interests
The authors report no conflicts of interest or relevant financial relationships.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that these themes show what causes contraceptive care problems or that any clinic change will fix them. The study reports perceptions from 17 mostly white, well-educated women, not clinic records, observed visits, or tested solutions.