Abstract
Background
Historically, people with disabilities who become parents have confronted discriminatory
societal attitudes and public policies. Today, although more women with disabilities
are bearing children, little is known about the perceptions of their pregnancies,
even among their family members. In addition, little is understood about how family
members’ attitudes and reactions affect women with physical disabilities around the
time of pregnancy.
Method
This qualitative study involved interviews with 25 women with physical disabilities
from across the United States who had a baby within the past 10 years. Semistructured
telephone interviews were conducted. Interviews were audio-recorded, professionally
transcribed, and analyzed using an iterative, interpretive process.
Findings
Women reported a wide range of physical disabilities. Before, during, and after pregnancy,
participants reported experiencing wide-ranging attitudes and reactions from family
members concerning their pregnancies. These responses fell into six categories: 1)
initial negative reactions, 2) concern about mother's well-being, 3) questioning of
parenting capability, 4) negative perceptions of disability, 5) genetic concerns,
and 6) excited and supportive.
Conclusions
This study sheds light on the attitudes and reactions toward pregnancy that women
with physical disabilities experience from family members. Our findings suggest the
need for increased social support and family education. Greater availability of peer
supports as well as information for women with disabilities considering pregnancy
is also needed.
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Biography
Robyn M. Powell, MA, JD, is a research associate in the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts.
Biography
Monika Mitra, PhD, is an associate professor in the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts.
Biography
Suzanne C. Smeltzer, EdD, RN, FAAN, is a professor and Director of the Center for Nursing Research, Villanova University College of Nursing, Villanova, Pennsylvania.
Biography
Linda M. Long-Bellil, PhD, JD, is an assistant professor in the Center for Health Policy and Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts.
Biography
Lauren D. Smith, MPH, is a research associate in the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts.
Biography
Lisa I. Iezzoni, MD, MSc, is a professor in the Harvard Medical School, Mongan Institute for Health Policy, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 16, 2017
Accepted:
January 9,
2017
Received in revised form:
December 22,
2016
Received:
October 12,
2016
Footnotes
Funding statement: This research is funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Award Number: R01HD074581. Funding for this study was also provided by The Lurie Institute for Disability Policy, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University.
Financial disclosure: Authors have no financial interests to disclose.
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. Published by Elsevier Inc.
