Unmet needs, limited access: A qualitative study of postpartum health care experiences of people with disabilities.
Lesley A Tarasoff, Yona Lunsky, Kate Welsh and 4 others
PMID 36932042WHAT IT FOUND
Disabled parents described postpartum care as fragmented and often inadequate.
They said providers shifted attention to newborns, missed pain and recovery needs, gave unhelpful breastfeeding advice, and made them fear home visits. Some occupational therapy and home nursing supports helped.
Key findings
01Across disability groups, postpartum care was marked by inadequate care, provider unawareness of disability accommodations, and fear of judgement, discrimination, or intrusive surveillance.
02Participants reported that disability-related physical health concerns were overlooked after birth, with consequences including bedsores.
03Some participants found occupational therapy and adaptive equipment helpful, but they faced barriers accessing these services.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
This is a qualitative study of experiences, so it does not test whether any service improves outcomes. Participants were recruited through disability organizations and online networks, so it may miss people not connected to these groups. The sample was mostly white, urban, and well-educated despite attempts at diversity. Only two participants were blind, and the study did not include people who needed more communication support, such as deafblind people. The interview guide focused broadly on postpartum care, not the standard postpartum visit specifically. The study covered only formal services in the immediate postpartum period, not informal supports.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that a particular service changes outcomes. The study reports experiences and perceptions, not tested interventions.