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Disabled women and reproductive healthcare in the United States

  • Marlene Belew Huff
Published/Copyright: November 1, 2010
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International Journal on Disability and Human Development
From the journal Volume 9 Issue 2-3

Abstract

There are few published articles about disability and women's needs during the childbearing cycle. The studies are primarily anecdotal and derived from the clinical experiences of practitioners. Medical providers in primary care settings can respond to the concerns of pregnant, disabled women by providing information, providing care in facilities that are physically accessible and psychologically supportive, and by putting in place an interdisciplinary plan of care based on a thorough assessment of physical and psychosocial needs. All women should have access to preconception, prenatal, and postnatal care. Women with disabilities are increasingly making the choice of motherhood but little is known about their pregnancy experiences. Pregnant women with disabilities are a little studied topic and are routinely included in national survey questionnaires. To improve our clinical understanding of the care that pregnant, disabled women need, more research is needed.


Corresponding author: Marlene Belew Huff, LCSW, PhD, Associate Professor, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Lexington, KY 40506, USA

Received: 2010-1-1
Accepted: 2010-2-12
Published Online: 2010-11-01
Published in Print: 2010-11-01

©2010 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York

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