Stakeholders’ opinion regarding disabled friendliness of obstetrics and gynaecology services in hospitals of North India

Authors

  • Ruchi Sharma Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, NINE, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
  • Ajit Kumar Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NINE, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
  • Vanita Suri Department of Physiotherapy, NINE, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
  • Sukhpal Kaur Principal, NINE, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
  • Amar Jeet Singh Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, NINE, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20222808

Keywords:

Disabled friendliness of obstetrics and gynaecology services, Sexual and reproductive health, Stakeholders’ opinion, Treatment seeking behaviour, Women’s health, Women with disabilities

Abstract

Background: Hospitals are part of our society. Barriers faced by people with disability (PWD) in hospitals reflect obstacles in society also. Women with disability (WWD) are at particular disadvantage. Our objective was to explore the domain related to the problems that WWD face in accessing obstetrics and gynecology (OBG) services in government institutes/hospitals of Chandigarh.

Methods: This mixed quantitative and qualitative research was done during 2013-2017. Stakeholders included WWD, their families, self-help groups, community-based organisations, NGOs, doctors, nurses, public health experts, research scholars and government bodies involved in disability services. Five major government institutes/hospitals of Chandigarh were purposively selected for the study. In-depth interviews were conducted among different groups to gain an insight into their views regarding the degree to which the reproductive health services were disabled-friendly.

Results: Most (80-90%) of the stakeholders emphasized the need of making OBG services disabled-friendly. The majority of doctors and nurses said that no special training was given to them to deal with WWD. They opined that SRH needs of WWD were different from other women. Lack of access was the main barrier to OBG care in hospitals reported by 46% of WWD. Most of the hospitals lacked any special provisions for PWD.

Conclusions: There is a lack of concern and apathy for WWD in the society. Hospitals lack a disabled-friendly attitude, design and facilities. Access to OBG services for WWD was barrier ridden.

Author Biographies

Ruchi Sharma, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, NINE, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India

Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh

Ajit Kumar, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, NINE, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India

Ajit Kumar, MSc, Senior Physiotherapist, PGIMER, Chandigarh; kumar_ajit4004@yahoo.co.in;9781717579

Vanita Suri, Department of Physiotherapy, NINE, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India

Vanita Suri, MS, Head, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, PGIMER, Chandigarh; surivanita@yahoo.co.in;9914209346

Sukhpal Kaur, Principal, NINE, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India

Sukhpal Kaur, PhD, Principal, NINE, PGIMER, Chandigarh; sukhpal.trehan@yahoo.in

Amar Jeet Singh, Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, NINE, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India

Amar Jeet Singh, MD, Ex-Head, Community Medicine and School of Public Health, PGIMER, Chandigarh; dramarjeet56@gmail.com

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Published

2022-10-28

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Original Research Articles