Removing service barriers for women with physical disabilities: promoting accessibility in the gynecologic care setting.
Although women with disabilities constitute a substantial segment of the population, their gynecologic health care needs often go unrecognized or untreated. Women with disabilities encounter a variety of obstacles to receiving health services including attitudinal, environmental, economic, and informational barriers. Standard screening and preventive services, such as pelvic examinations and mammograms, can be especially difficult to obtain, potentially placing women with disabilities at greater risk for diseases such as breast cancer and cervical cancer. This article reviews the current status of gynecologic care for women with disabilities and provides strategies for women's health care providers seeking to increase the accessibility of their practice settings.
Schopp
Laura H
LH
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
Sanford
Tiffany C
TC
Hagglund
Kristofer J
KJ
Gay
John W
JW
Coatney
Mary Ann
MA
D001107:Architectural Accessibility; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003144:Communication Barriers; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000592:standards*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries; D014481:United States; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000592:standards*