title: Prevalence of current pregnancy among US women with and without chronic physical disabilities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of US women of childbearing age who have chronic physical disabilities (CPD) is increasing. However, little is known about their reproductive experiences. Historically, women with physical disabilities have confronted stigmatized attitudes about becoming pregnant.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the national prevalence of current pregnancy among women with and without CPD; examine differences in current pregnancy prevalence between these 2 groups of women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bivariable and multivariable analyses of cross-sectional, nationally representative National Health Interview Survey data from 2006 to 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven thousand six hundred twenty-nine civilian, noninstitutionalized women aged 18-49 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  National Health Interview Survey asks women ages 18-49 if they are currently pregnant; it also asks about various movement difficulties. We used responses from 8 movement difficulty and other questions to identify women with CPD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six thousand forty-three (12.7%) sampled women report CPD. Compared with other women, women with CPD are significantly: older; more likely to be black and less likely to be Asian or Hispanic; more likely to be divorced or separated; more likely to have less than a high school education; less likely to be employed; and have much lower incomes. Across all women, 3.5% report being currently pregnant: 3.8% of women without CPD and 2.0% with CPD. Controlling for sociodemographic factors, the adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of current pregnancy is 0.83 (95% confidence interval, 0.65-1.05; P=0.12) for women with CPD compared with nondisabled women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with CPD do become pregnant, and their numbers will likely grow. Obstetrical practitioners therefore require training about the special needs of these women.
authors.affiliation: Mongan Institute for Health Policy, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. liezzoni@partners.org
authors.forename: Lisa I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Iezzoni
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Amy J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Wint
authors.forename: Suzanne C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Smeltzer
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ecker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology