Disability Justice and Access to Labor and Delivery Care
Author Information
Author(s): Meredith Evans, Lesley A. Tarasoff, Yona Lunsky, Kate Welsh, Laure Proulx, Susan M. Havercamp, Susan L. Parish, Hilary K. Brown
Primary Institution: University of Toronto Scarborough
Hypothesis
How is collective access to labor and delivery care thwarted and facilitated for people with disabilities?
Conclusion
Collective access to labor and delivery care can improve perinatal health care for people with disabilities and promote disability justice.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants described both negative and positive experiences of labor and delivery care.
- Negative experiences included provider-driven, disrespectful, and discriminatory care.
- Positive experiences were characterized by collaborative, respectful, and disability-affirming care.
Takeaway
This study talks about how people with disabilities often have bad experiences during childbirth because they are not treated with respect. When doctors and nurses work together with patients and listen to their needs, it can make the experience much better.
Methodology
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 31 women and transgender people with disabilities who had given birth in the previous five years.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the researchers' perspectives and the limited demographic representation of participants.
Limitations
The study primarily included white, cisgender women with disabilities from urban areas, limiting the diversity of experiences captured.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 29 cisgender women and 2 transgender individuals, aged 18-45, with various disabilities.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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