Prenatal care for women with physical disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act: patient experiences and gaps in access.

PROBLEM: Historically, the experiences of women with physical disabilities have been neglected in healthcare, especially within prenatal care. These patients are often misinformed about their fertility or deterred from getting pregnant; when they do become pregnant, they experience inadequate care and poor outcomes.

BACKGROUND

Pregnancy rates among women with physical disabilities are similar to those of women without disabilities and expected to further rise. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) oversees regulations that ensure these patients receive equal access to healthcare, including essential prenatal care.

AIM: The purpose of this review is to identify barriers to accessibility in prenatal care for patients with physical disabilities in the context of the protective regulations established by the ADA, as well as relate these barriers to the patient experiences as reported in the current literature.

METHODS

A structured literature search was conducted using PubMed and CINAHL. Peer-reviewed articles examining the prenatal care experiences of women with physical disabilities of childbearing age were analyzed for inclusion.

FINDINGS: Across eighteen articles reviewed, four major barriers were identified: 1) physical accessibility of facilities; 2) accessible medical equipment; 3) difficulties in patient transfer onto the exam table; and 4) inadequate physician education, resources, and attitudes surrounding care.

DISCUSSION: Findings illustrated barriers to prenatal care that specifically affect women with physical disabilities, leading to negative experiences that may extend to other reproductive healthcare settings. The findings demonstrate the need to improve facilities, accommodations, and implementation of ADA standards.

CONCLUSION

These improvements will enhance access to equitable care and ensure quality prenatal care for these patients.