Becker H, Stuifbergen A, Tinkle M
University of Texas School of Nursing, Austin 78701, USA.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1997 Dec;78(12 Suppl 5):S26-33. doi: 10.1016/s0003-9993(97)90218-5.
To explore the reproductive health care experiences of women with physical disabilities and how reproductive health care experiences could be improved.
A qualitative interview study was conducted.
Ten women, ages 28 to 47 years, with physical disabilities, including multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and paralysis, were recruited through the investigators' contacts with local disability groups.
Interviewees encountered numerous barriers to quality reproductive health care services, including inaccessible equipment and facilities, limited contraceptive options, health care providers' insensitivity and lack of knowledge about disabilities, and limited information tailored to their needs. Providers sometimes appeared surprised that they would be sexually active, and did not ask about contraceptive use or assess for sexually transmitted diseases. Although most interviewees had private health insurance, some had problems seeing preferred providers. Accessing reproductive health care services is so difficult that some women avoid regular gynecologic visits. Suggestions for improving services included involving women with disabilities in teaching health care providers about their special needs and self-advocacy training to help disabled women become more knowledgeable partners in their own health care.
Additional research should address the gaps in knowledge about the reproductive health care needs of women with disabilities.
探讨身体残疾女性的生殖保健经历以及如何改善生殖保健体验。
进行了一项定性访谈研究。
通过研究人员与当地残疾群体的联系，招募了10名年龄在28至47岁之间的身体残疾女性，包括患有多发性硬化症、脑瘫和瘫痪的女性。
受访者在获得高质量生殖保健服务方面遇到了诸多障碍，包括设备和设施不便使用、避孕选择有限、医疗保健提供者缺乏敏感度以及对残疾情况了解不足，还有针对她们需求的信息有限。医疗服务提供者有时会对她们有性活动表现出惊讶，且不询问避孕措施的使用情况或评估性传播疾病。尽管大多数受访者拥有私人医疗保险，但有些人在看自己喜欢的医疗服务提供者时遇到问题。获得生殖保健服务非常困难，以至于一些女性避免定期进行妇科检查。改善服务的建议包括让残疾女性参与教导医疗保健提供者了解她们的特殊需求，以及进行自我倡导培训，以帮助残疾女性在自身医疗保健中成为更有见识的参与者。
应开展更多研究以填补关于残疾女性生殖保健需求知识方面的空白。
