[Equal Opportunities for Care in Obstetrics - A Quantitative Survey of Accessibility in Obstetric Departments in Austria].
BACKGROUND
In everyday life women with disabilities are facing different challenges and discriminatory aspects. Especially the issue of pregnancy and motherhood is still critically discussed and subject to taboo. The aim of the present study is to survey the extent of structural measures on the one hand and additional specific service offers on the other hand that have been implemented in order to ensure accessibility and equitable care for women with disabilities in the obstetric departments in Austria.


METHODS
Data were collected by a self-developed non-standardised questionnaire, evaluating existing or implemented structural measures and specific service offerings that ensure accessibility. Data collection and analysis were performed using the online survey application "LimeSurvey" and SPSS, respectively.


RESULTS
The survey data reveal that the obstetric departments largely conform to the requirements of the different building regulations. Additional measures or adaptations of the inventory for women with mobility or sensory impairments are at the discretion of the institution and thus are hardly implemented.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the small sample size it becomes obvious that the obstetric departments in Austria lack in many regards structures that ensure accessibility to care, nursing, counselling and support for women with sensory impairments or limited mobility.
FH Gesundheitsberufe OÖ GmbH, Studiengang Hebamme, Linz, Austria.
B
B
Schildberger
fhg - Zentrum für Gesundheitsberufe Tirol GmbH, Innsbruck, Austria.
N
N
Ortner
fhg - Zentrum für Gesundheitsberufe Tirol GmbH, Innsbruck, Austria.
C
C
Zenzmaier
fhg - Zentrum für Gesundheitsberufe Tirol GmbH, Innsbruck, Austria.
M
M
König-Bachmann
D000328:Adult; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009775:Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult