title: Deafness, pregnancy and sexual health.
abstract: This article exposes the need for support for midwives, to ensure that they are equipped to meet the needs of deaf parents to be. It uncovers research which demonstrates the urgent need for an increase in awareness, education and resources; and the reasons that deaf people have higher rates of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections than the general population. With stories from midwives at a loss as to how to communicate with deaf mothers in labour, and stories from deaf women who can't understand their health professionals, nor read the literature that has been given to them--this is thought provoking reading.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parsons
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003638:Deafness / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control; D060728:Reproductive Health / Q000193:education*; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult