Best Practices for Obstetric Care of Deaf Patients.

BACKGROUND

Deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) women face significant health care disparities, including higher rates of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm birth, and unintended pregnancy compared with the general population.

PROBLEM: DHH women encounter significant barriers to obstetric care, including inadequate communication access, insufficient availability of qualified interpreters, and lack of provider training in caring for DHH patients.

APPROACH: Effective communication, culturally competent, and patient-centered care can address existing disparities and improve outcomes for DHH women throughout their reproductive years.

OBJECTIVE

This article summarizes best practices for obstetric care to DHH patients and highlights opportunities for improving health care to this diverse population.