title: Females with Down syndrome: lost opportunities in primary care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nurse practitioners (NPs) need to be aware of the health disparities that exist between adult females with and without Down syndrome (DS). It is essential that necessary primary and preventive healthcare services are available to women with DS to maintain adequate health and quality of life, and reduce the occurrence of misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed treatable diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of published literature, DS society reports, and U.S. government reports.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A lack of agreed guidelines for the screening of adult females with DS contributes to unmet health needs in primary care for this population. Adequate promotion of health in all persons with disabilities, including the specific needs of women with DS, will help prevent the development of preventable secondary disabilities. Research shows that health promotion, screenings, and preventive care are overlooked or ignored in the female population with DS. Barriers to this care were consistent with misconceived attitudes and beliefs about adults with DS and a lack of training for primary care providers in caring for persons with disabilities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although much research is needed, there are some resources for NPs who provide care for this vulnerable population. Screening for preventable conditions, such as obesity, sexually transmitted infections, and sexual exploitation, can improve the quality of life for adult women with DS.
authors.affiliation: AUA Surgical Center, LLC, Amarillo, Texas.
authors.forename: Freida
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Toler
mesh_terms: D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses'; D011320:Primary Health Care; D014481:United States; D014932:Women's Health Services
keywords: Down syndrome; disparities; prevention; primary care; screening; vulnerable populations