Difficulties Experienced by Women with Disabilities in the Perinatal Period and Solution Recommendations

Year 2023, Volume: 26 Issue: 3, 226 - 230, 11.09.2023

Aliye Doğan Gangal , Eda Şimşek Şahin Ayten Şentürk Erenel

https://doi.org/10.5152/JANHS.2023.23377

Abstract

Approximately 15% of the world’s population comprises people with disabilities. It is stated that the rate of disability in all age groups is higher in women than in men. It is estimated that approximately 10% of women of reproductive age have a disability. Although there is not enough data on the proportion of women with disabilities among all women who gave birth, the evidence shows that the number of women with disabilities who become mothers is not negligible. Technological and medical developments in recent years have led to the prolongation of the life expectancy of individuals with disabilities and to lead a more active life, resulting in an increased interest in having children for women with disabilities. However, women with disabilities have more maternal and obstetric risk of complications than those without disabilities. Therefore, comprehensive perinatal care is crucial in improving maternal and fetal outcomes in women with disabilities.
Additionally, it is stated that disabled women have some difficulties accessing healthcare services in the perinatal period. Expanding sexual/reproductive health services to include women
with disabilities is also important in achieving Sustainable Development Goals. For this reason, it is recommended that plans should be made to eliminate the possible perinatal risks and difficulties experienced by disabled women of reproductive age and that nurses, who are in critical positions in perinatal care, should expand their healthcare services to include women with disabilities.

Keywords

Disability, pregnancy, perinatal health, nurse

Engelli Kadınların Perinatal Dönemde Yaşadığı Güçlükler ve Çözüm Önerileri

Abstract

Dünya nüfusunun yaklaşık %15’ini engelli bireyler oluşturmaktadır. Her yaş grubunda engellilik oranının erkeklere kıyasla kadınlarda daha yüksek olduğu belirtilmektedir. Üreme çağındaki kadın-
ların yaklaşık %10’unun engelli olduğu tahmin edilmektedir. Doğum yapan tüm kadınlar arasında engelli kadınların oranına ilişkin yeterli veri olmamakla birlikte kanıtlar anne olan engelli kadın
sayısının ihmal edilmeyecek oranda olduğunu göstermektedir. Son yıllarda yaşanan teknolojik ve tıbbi gelişmeler engelli bireylerin yaşam süresinin uzamasına ve daha aktif bir yaşamın sürmele-
rine neden olup, engelli kadınların çocuk sahibi olmasına yönelik ilginin artmasına neden olmuştur Bununla birlikte, engelli kadınlar engelli olmayanlara göre daha fazla maternal ve obstetrik
komplikasyon riskine sahiptir. Bu nedenle engelli kadınlarda maternal ve fetal sonuçların iyileştirilmesinde kapsamlı perinatal bakımın önemi büyüktür. Buna karşın engelli kadınların perinatal
dönemde sağlık bakım hizmetlerine erişimde de birtakım güçlükler yaşadıkları belirtilmektedir. Cinsel sağlık/üreme sağlığı hizmetlerinin engelli kadınları kapsayacak şekilde genişletilmesi
Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma Hedeflerine ulaşmada da büyük önem arz etmektedir. Bu nedenle doğurgan çağdaki engelli kadınların olası perinatal risklerinin ve yaşadıkları güçlüklerin ortadan kaldırıl-
masına yönelik planlamaların yapılması, perinatal bakımda anahtar pozisyonda olan hemşirelerin sağlık bakım hizmet sunumlarını engelli kadınları kapsayacak şekilde genişletmesi önerilmektedir.

Keywords

Engellilik, gebelik, perinatal sağlık, hemşire

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