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Reproductive health experiences among women with physical disabilities in the Northwest Region of Cameroon
Author(s) -
Bremer Kimberly,
Cockburn Lynn,
Ruth Acheinegeh
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2009.10.008
Subject(s) - medicine , reproductive health , health care , family medicine , nursing , pregnancy , health education , environmental health , public health , population , biology , genetics , economics , economic growth
Objective To investigate the reproductive health experiences among women with physical disabilities in the Northwest Region of Cameroon. Methods Data were collected in the city of Bamenda through semi‐structured interviews with women with mobility impairments, discussions with healthcare providers, hospital observations, and field notes. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded and analyzed for key themes. Results The 8 participants included in the study had limited understanding of reproductive health and many had not received basic reproductive health education. Unplanned pregnancy was common and pregnancy was often feared. Respondents reported both positive and negative responses from family, community members, and healthcare workers regarding reproductive health. Most healthcare centers were physically and financially inaccessible. Conclusion Women with disabilities need greater education on reproductive health and improved access to health care.