Equity and inclusion in pregnancy care: report on the pregnancy outcomes and health care experiences of people with disabilities in Ontario
Equity and Inclusion in Pregnancy Care: Report on the Pregnancy Outcomes and Health Care Experiences of People with Disabilities in Ontario describes the results of the Disability and Pregnancy Study.
Funded by the US National Institutes of Health, the Disability and Pregnancy Study was a landmark study that used parallel evidence from health administrative data on nearly 150,000 births to people with disabilities and qualitative interview data from key informants to examine the preconception, pregnancy, labour and birth, and postpartum and newborn health outcomes and health care experiences of people with physical, sensory, developmental and multiple disabilities in Ontario, Canada.
This initiative was led by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in epidemiology, qualitative methods, maternal-fetal medicine, pediatrics, psychology, psychiatry and disability, including lived experience of disability, and was further informed by an Advisory Committee of people with disabilities, service-providers and decision-makers. The Disability and Pregnancy Study gathered evidence supporting the need for a more equitable and inclusive approach to pregnancy care that addresses the needs of disabled people.
To read the report, scroll to the bottom of this page and download the easy read summary, executive summary, or full report.
Webinar: Equity and Inclusion in Pregnancy Care
On June 18th from 3 – 4:30 p.m., we held a webinar where the research team described the findings of the Disability and Pregnancy Study. There was an expert panel that includes researchers, people with lived experience of disability, and health and social service providers, and the team discussed next steps in creating an accessible pregnancy care system that considers the needs of people with disabilities.
A recording of the webinar is now publicly available on YouTube.
Additional Resources
Childbirth Preparation and Support Tool
Caring for Pregnant and New Parents with Physical Disabilities
Breastfeeding Following Spinal Cord Injury: Consumer Guide for Mothers (Journal Article)